History

What is today a giant business group was in fact the pioneering effort of one man.

In 1862, 21-year-old John Holt sailed from Liverpool and arrived in Fernando Po (now Equatorial Guinea) with just £27 to work as a grocery store assistant. Five years later, he bought the store, expanded into produce trading with the Delta Ports, and exported goods like palm oil, rubber, and cocoa to England while importing textiles and bicycles. In 1897, John Holt established his first venture in Lagos.

Before World War II, John Holt’s business focused on produce distribution and export, operating a fleet of ships from Liverpool to West Africa fortnightly and the company also had its own fleet of river craft. These vessels also transported cash, with John Holt offering secure storage before banks became prevalent. Even after banks emerged, many Nigerians preferred to deposit their money with John Holt.

John Holt Limited was incorporated in Nigeria in 1961, and in 1974, it became a public liability company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, where it remains one of the founding members (symbol: JOHNHOLT). Today, the company provides innovative products and services, including renewable energy, diesel generators, gas generators, rapid intervention vehicles & trolleys, firefighting equipment, air conditioners, boats and export of Nigerian non-oil products. Please click on the links above for more details on each product and service.

The John Holt logo, featuring a brass manilla (once used as currency in some parts of Nigeria) and a five-point star, signifies the Group’s enduring connection with international trade.