Rite Foods says it reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in 2025 and cut carbon intensity by 23%, but the food and beverage manufacturer continues to rely heavily on natural gas as it works towards a net-zero target for 2060.

The company disclosed the figures while presenting its 2025 Sustainability Report in Lagos on 24 July.

It also reported a 15% improvement in water-use efficiency, a 27% reduction in its solid-waste ratio and a fall in energy consumption from 0.44 megajoules to 0.41 megajoules per litre of beverage produced.

What changed in 2025?

According to Rite Foods, its greenhouse gas emissions fell by more than 5% in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Contemporaneous reporting of the presentation put the company’s 2024 emissions at 567.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, implying a 2025 figure of roughly 539 tonnes if the reported reduction is applied. The company has not, in the material publicly available for this report, provided independent verification of that calculation.

The company also says carbon intensity – emissions relative to beverage production – fell by 23%.

That distinction matters. A fall in emissions per litre does not necessarily mean that total emissions from the business are falling at the same rate, particularly if production increases.

Rite Foods said its energy-use ratio also improved by about 7%, from 0.44 megajoules per litre in 2024 to 0.41 megajoules in 2025. Solid-waste generation reportedly fell from 10.6g to 7.71g per litre.

Natural gas makes up most of the energy mix

Rite Foods says natural gas accounted for more than 93% of its energy mix, alongside renewable-energy investments.

Natural gas generally produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal or some oil products when burned, but it is still a fossil fuel. The company’s figures therefore suggest that its immediate strategy is one of improving efficiency and moving away from more polluting fuels, while gradually increasing renewable energy.

Rite Foods says it has been reducing its reliance on automotive gas oil while increasing the use of natural gas and solar energy.

The company has set a longer-term ambition of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Mr Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods, said: “Sustainability has become a defining pillar of Rite Foods’ growth strategy and a key driver of long-term value creation. Every milestone we have achieved reflects our resolve to operate responsibly, reduce our environmental footprint, create shared value for our stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to national development.”

The challenge for the company will now be demonstrating that the reductions are sustained and that renewable energy becomes a significant part of its energy mix rather than remaining a relatively small supplement to gas.

Plastic claims need closer scrutiny

Plastic waste is another area where the company’s sustainability claims require careful examination.

Rite Foods says it recovered plastic waste through coastal clean-up initiatives and other recycling partnerships.

N581.92m spent on sustainability and CSR

Rite Foods also reported a substantial increase in spending on corporate social responsibility and sustainability programmes.

The company says it spent ₦581.92m in 2025, compared with ₦387.89m in 2024 – an increase of roughly 50%.

It says the money supported education, healthcare, youth empowerment, environmental initiatives and community development.

The company also reported approximately 3,000 direct jobs and more than 12,000 indirect jobs across its supply chain.

It said it paid more than ₦18.41bn in taxes, excluding PAYE deductions, and generated ₦136.19bn in total value added to the Nigerian economy during the year.

Why the reporting matters

Rite Foods’ decision to publish sustainability information comes at a time when Nigeria is moving towards more formal sustainability disclosure requirements.

The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria unveiled an amended roadmap and Sustainability Reporting Guideline in February 2026 as part of the country’s implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The framework is intended to improve the quality and consistency of corporate sustainability information.

Nigeria’s sustainability-reporting framework is increasingly connected to international standards. The IFRS Foundation says Nigeria’s roadmap covers IFRS S1 and S2 and applies to public-interest entities, including listed companies, as well as certain non-listed entities.

Rite Foods says its report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative Standards and incorporated elements of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.

The Global Reporting Initiative says its standards are intended to help organisations report publicly on their economic, environmental and social impacts and provide information that can be used to assess an organisation’s contribution to sustainable development.

A 2026 assessment of Nigeria’s ESG landscape published by the International Labour Organisation identified gaps, challenges, risks and opportunities in the adoption and reporting of ESG practices in the country.

A report by ACCA on Nigeria’s sustainability-reporting push also highlighted concerns about the risk of exaggerated environmental claims. Ameh Michael Apeh of GIZ said checks against fraudulent sustainability claims were crucial and warned that greenwashing was increasing as the country’s green economy develops.

The unanswered questions

Rite Foods’ reported progress is measurable in several areas, particularly energy efficiency, water use and waste intensity.

But important questions remain.

The company needs to show more clearly how its total emissions changed alongside production, how much of its energy actually comes from renewable sources, and how its 2060 net-zero ambition will be measured.

And while the company says it voluntarily follows international reporting frameworks, readers and other stakeholders would benefit from knowing whether its key environmental data have undergone independent external assurance.

For consumers, communities, regulators and business partners, the real test will therefore not be the publication of another sustainability report but whether the company can demonstrate year-on-year reductions with transparent, comparable and independently credible data.

Rite Foods says sustainability will remain central to its growth strategy. Its next report should provide a clearer test of whether the commitments announced today are translating into deeper changes in the company’s energy use, emissions, waste and community impact.

The Lagos State Government has commissioned newly rehabilitated access roads and dumping platforms at the Olusosun landfill, one of Nigeria’s largest waste disposal sites, following a 26-day construction project carried out by ZoomLion Nigeria Limited.

State officials say the upgrade is expected to improve access for refuse trucks, reduce delays in waste disposal and strengthen operations at the landfill, which serves a significant proportion of Lagos’ municipal waste.

The project was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and ZoomLion Nigeria.

ZoomLion Managing Director, Mrs Habiba Abubakar, said the company completed the work within 26 days after initially targeting 21 days.

“We gave ourselves 21 days. On the 20th day, Engineer Francis called and said we might have an issue. I told him I could never return to Lagos State and say we couldn’t deliver the project. He asked for five more days, and today I can proudly say we completed it in 26 days. That is what ZoomLion does.”

She thanked Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Ministry of the Environment, LAWMA and other stakeholders for supporting the project.

“I want to thank the Governor of Lagos State, the Honourable Commissioner, the Managing Director of LAWMA, our stakeholders, everyone from LAWMA, my colleagues, and especially our ZoomLion engineers in blue.”

Mrs Abubakar also credited the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, with establishing the environmental services business that expanded into Nigeria and other African countries.

“The most important person for ZoomLion is not here today, but he sends his love. Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong is the man with the vision. Twenty-five years ago, he dreamt of building an environmental services company that would transform waste management across Africa.”

Addressing questions over the company’s ownership, she said ZoomLion Nigeria operates as a Nigerian company despite being part of a group founded by a Ghanaian businessman.

“Our chairman may be Ghanaian, but he entrusted me with the responsibility of running ZoomLion Nigeria. This is a Nigerian company, operated by Nigerians and committed to delivering lasting environmental solutions for Nigeria.”

She said the company plans to develop transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities that would support recycling instead of relying solely on landfill disposal.

“Eventually, waste collected from different locations will be transported to transfer stations before moving to treatment and recycling facilities… our goal is to recover value from waste instead of simply disposing of it.”

LAWMA Managing Director Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin said the rehabilitation was undertaken after the authority identified operational challenges at the landfill.

“We saw the need to modernise this critical section of the Olusosun Landfill. We reached out to ZoomLion, and they responded immediately. This was beyond what they originally signed up to do, and we sincerely appreciate their commitment.”

He urged residents to separate recyclable materials before disposal.

“We appeal to residents to separate plastics, metals, glass and other recyclable materials from general waste. Recycling companies can collect these materials separately, and doing so will significantly improve our waste management system.”

The National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Dr Olugbenga Adebola, described the rehabilitation as an example of public-private collaboration, while also encouraging waste separation at source.

One of the truck drivers using the landfill, Mr Ogedengbe Sunday Oluwadamilare, said the improved road would reduce delays and improve safety for drivers transporting refuse into the facility.

Why the project matters

Olusosun remains central to Lagos’ waste disposal network despite successive government plans to increase recycling and reduce dependence on landfill disposal.

Poor internal roads at major landfills can delay waste evacuation, increase vehicle operating costs and contribute to traffic congestion around disposal sites. Improving access may therefore help operators move waste more efficiently.

However, waste management specialists have consistently argued that infrastructure upgrades alone cannot solve Lagos’ growing waste challenge. Greater investment in recycling, waste separation at source and modern treatment facilities will be needed if the state is to reduce landfill dependence.

Environmental groups have accused the Federal Government, the Delta State Government and an oil operator of failing to act swiftly over a wellhead blowout that has continued to discharge crude oil into Uzere community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State for more than a month.

The organisations say the spill has displaced families, destroyed farms, contaminated waterways and threatened livelihoods, warning that delays in containing the incident could worsen environmental damage in one of Nigeria’s oldest oil-producing communities.

Why it matters

Uzere occupies an important place in Nigeria’s oil history, having been one of the country’s earliest oil-producing communities after Oloibiri.

For decades, communities across the Niger Delta have complained that repeated oil spills have polluted land and rivers, undermining farming, fishing and public health while fuelling disputes over environmental accountability.

Campaigners say the latest incident highlights continuing concerns about oil infrastructure, emergency response and environmental regulation in Nigeria’s petroleum-producing region.

According to the activists, the blowout began on 27 June 2026 following what they described as equipment failure at a facility operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL).

They say Uheri Quarter has suffered the greatest impact, with crops destroyed, aquatic life severely affected and many residents forced to leave their homes.

At the time of publication, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited had not issued a public statement responding to the allegations contained in the campaigners’ statement.

Campaigners accuse company and government of slow response

Benin Richard, Executive Director of the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), said the incident should be treated as an environmental emergency.

“What we are witnessing in Uzere is nothing short of an environmental emergency. This equipment failure has unleashed a catastrophe that will take years to remedy. Our hearts go out to the people of Uheri quarter in the Uzere Kingdom who have lost their farmlands, their source of livelihood, and their homes.

“We learnt the company has reached out to the community, but their response has been far from proactive. This is not the time for half-measures; this is a moment that demands urgency, transparency, and genuine commitment to restoration. We cannot continue to treat these spills as isolated incidents when they represent a pattern of negligence that has plagued our oil-producing communities for decades.”

Calls for immediate environmental restoration

Dr. Maimoni Ubrei-Joe, Chairman of the Isoko Environment Monitoring Committee (IEMC) and Director of Climate Justice at Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), said emergency action should go beyond the initial joint investigation.

“I have witnessed firsthand the devastation that oil spills inflict on our communities. The Uzere incident is a stark reminder of why we must remain vigilant. The joint investigation visit was a necessary first step, but we cannot afford to stop there. Heritage Company must move beyond token gestures and demonstrate genuine commitment to the people of Uheri quarter.

“Environmental restoration must begin immediately, not weeks or months from now. The aquatic life that sustained our fishermen is gone, the crops that fed our families are destroyed, and our people have been displaced from their ancestral homes. This is not merely an environmental issue; it is a human rights crisis that demands a coordinated response from both the company and the government.”

Demand for accountability and compensation

Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of the Revelyn Development Initiative (RDI), said affected residents deserve compensation and lasting remediation.

“The Uzere oil spill is yet another chapter in the long and painful history of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. The people of Uheri quarter have paid the price for oil extraction with their health, their livelihoods, and their environment.

“The joint investigation visit confirms the severity of the situation, but we must ask: what next? Heritage Company’s outreach to the community, while noted, has been insufficient. We need a comprehensive plan that includes environmental remediation, compensation for affected families, and a thorough investigation into the root cause of this equipment failure.

“The era of impunity must end. This is not a battle between the company and the community; it is a battle for justice, for sustainability, and for the future of our people.”

NGOs seek dialogue among stakeholders

Speaking on behalf of the Convener of NGOs for a Better Delta, Osariodion Andrew Ugbogbo called for a town hall meeting involving the community, government agencies, the company and civil society groups.

“This spill is a tragedy, but it is also an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together and chart a new path forward.

“We are calling for a Town Hall meeting to address this issue in its entirety—an inclusive forum where the community, the company, government agencies, and civil society can engage in honest dialogue.

“Beyond immediate relief, we need long-term solutions: a thorough investigation into the cause of the spill, a comprehensive environmental restoration programme, and fair compensation for all victims. Heritage must be held accountable, but the government also has a responsibility to ensure that our regulatory frameworks are strengthened and enforced.”

Environmental defenders urge government intervention

Executive Director of Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Chima Williams, criticised what he described as prolonged inaction.

“This impunity that has gone on for more than a month must not be allowed to continue. The failure of the operators of the Wellhead to clamp the blow-out has already led to forced displacements in Uzere.

“The government at Federal and state level must not allow the polluter to continue looking away and feigning helplessness in the face of their assault on the environment in the community.”

Niger Delta youth activist Idowu Esegu also criticised authorities, arguing that the welfare of oil-producing communities must receive greater attention.

“The Uzere incident shows that we have a government that seems to prioritize profits over human life and a habitable environment.

“The Uzere spill reinforces our position that while oil and gas sustain Nigeria, the Niger Delta which produces the golden egg has been on the receiving end of oil incidents.”

Expert perspective

Environmental policy experts have consistently argued that delayed containment of oil spills increases the risk of long-term contamination of soil, groundwater and rivers, while also raising the cost of environmental restoration.

They also say transparent investigations and timely compensation are essential for rebuilding trust between host communities, regulators and oil operators.

What campaigners want

The coalition called on authorities to:

Declare a state of emergency in the affected communities.

Establish an emergency relief fund for displaced families.

Conduct an independent forensic investigation into the equipment failure.

Carry out health assessments for affected residents.

Publish regular remediation updates.

Strengthen environmental regulations and enforcement.

Support community environmental monitoring.

Provide legal assistance for victims seeking compensation.

Develop disaster management plans for oil-producing communities.

Create a multi-stakeholder oversight committee to monitor restoration efforts.

What happens next

The campaigners say immediate containment of the spill, environmental remediation and compensation for affected residents should be prioritised.

Attention is now expected to focus on the response of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, as well as actions by federal and Delta State authorities responsible for environmental regulation and emergency response.