Rite Foods Limited says natural gas and solar power account for about 95 per cent of its energy consumption, as the Nigerian food and beverage manufacturer expands its product range with the launch of LIDA Malt Classic.

The company disclosed its energy mix during a media immersion programme at its manufacturing facility in Ososa, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on 15 October 2026, where it introduced its new non-alcoholic malt beverage.

The disclosure offers a glimpse into how a local manufacturer is approaching energy management while growing its beverage business in a market where production costs and operational efficiency are important considerations.

Gas, solar power dominate energy mix

Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods, said natural gas and solar power account for approximately 95 per cent of the company’s energy consumption, with diesel making up the remaining five per cent.

He said the company’s approach takes into account the realities of industrial operations in Nigeria while pursuing more efficient energy solutions.

“Our approach recognises the realities of industrial operations in Nigeria while deliberately pursuing cleaner, more efficient and more resilient energy solutions that support sustainability, productivity and business continuity,” he said.

The company did not provide a breakdown of the respective contributions of natural gas and solar power or disclose the period covered by the energy figures.

Further details on the scale of its solar installations, energy costs and emissions reductions would help establish the environmental and financial impact of the strategy.

New malt drink enters competitive market

Alongside its energy disclosure, Rite Foods introduced LIDA Malt Classic, a non-alcoholic malt beverage packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The product is currently available in the Classic variant, with the brand built around the proposition, “LIDA Malt. Made for You.”

The launch adds another product to the company’s beverage portfolio as manufacturers compete for consumers in Nigeria’s food and drink market.

Seleem Adegunwa, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rite Foods, said the launch reflected the company’s commitment to innovation and responding to changing consumer expectations.

He said the company would continue to explore opportunities to strengthen its portfolio with products that combine quality, consumer relevance and distinctive brand propositions.

Toyin Nnodi, Head of Marketing at Rite Foods, said the brand was developed around consumers’ preferences and everyday experiences.

“LIDA Malt was developed with the consumer in mind. We understand that people want quality products that fit their preferences and everyday routines. With LIDA Malt Classic, we are introducing an offering built around that understanding. Our ‘Made for You’ proposition reflects our commitment to keeping consumers at the heart of what we do,” Nnodi said.

She added that the launch demonstrated the company’s continued focus on understanding changing consumer preferences and developing products to meet them.

What LIDA Malt adds to the business

LIDA Malt expands a portfolio that includes Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks, available in 13 variants; Bigi Premium Drinking Water; Sosa Fruit Drink, with five variants; and Fearless Energy Drink.

The company also manufactures Rite Spicy Beef, Bigi Beef and Bigi Flex sausages using automated manufacturing infrastructure and technology.

Ekuma Eze said the malt drink was intended to complement everyday occasions, including meals, social gatherings and moments of relaxation.

However, the company did not disclose LIDA Malt’s production capacity, retail price, distribution targets or expected contribution to revenue.

Those details would help consumers and industry observers assess the product’s market positioning and its potential contribution to the company’s growth.

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Why the energy disclosure matters

Manufacturing depends on reliable energy to sustain production, preserve product quality and maintain operational continuity. For Nigerian manufacturers, the cost and availability of power are also important business considerations.

Rite Foods’ reported energy mix provides an indication of its approach, but the figures alone do not establish how much the company saves on energy or how significantly its operations have reduced emissions.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel, while solar power generates electricity from a renewable source. Assessing the environmental benefits of the company’s energy strategy would require a more detailed breakdown of consumption, emissions and changes over time.

For now, the introduction of LIDA Malt Classic and the disclosure of the company’s energy mix highlight two aspects of its business strategy: expanding its consumer product range and managing the energy demands of manufacturing.

Fidelity Bank Plc has provided payment infrastructure and business advisory services to exhibitors at Beauty in the Motherland 2026, highlighting the growing role of financial technology in supporting Nigeria’s beauty and personal care businesses.

The bank served as the event’s exclusive point-of-sale (POS) provider, enabling vendors to collect payments digitally during the three-day programme, which brought together more than 3,000 attendees and over 300 exhibitors in Lagos.

The event, which featured skincare, haircare, cosmetics, fragrance and wellness businesses, ran from October 6, 2026, with its commemorative dinner and awards ceremony held at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

Digital payments take centre stage

Beyond sponsoring the event, Fidelity Bank showcased financial services designed to help small businesses manage transactions and access banking support.

Its offerings included Fidelity POS Instant Settlement, PayGate Plus and SME accounts. Bank representatives also engaged exhibitors on financial management, business expansion and access to banking services.

Digital payment options can help businesses simplify collections and transaction records, although their practical benefits depend on factors such as transaction charges, settlement arrangements, network reliability and customers’ access to electronic payment channels.

For beauty entrepreneurs operating across retail, cosmetics production, personal care and wellness, access to reliable payment systems can be an important part of managing daily sales and expanding their customer base.

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Bank reiterates support for women-owned businesses

At the awards ceremony, Fidelity Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, received a special recognition award from the event organisers.

The organisers said the award recognised her leadership and the bank’s contribution to Beauty in the Motherland and the wider beauty enterprise ecosystem.

Onyeali-Ikpe said the bank’s sponsorship of the programme for a third consecutive year reflected its confidence in the industry and the entrepreneurs driving its development.

She described the African beauty industry as vibrant, innovative and increasingly global, adding that Fidelity Bank would continue to support entrepreneurs with relevant knowledge, access to finance, new markets and opportunities to build sustainable businesses.

The bank’s involvement also reflects the commercial significance of an industry in which women and young entrepreneurs operate across product manufacturing, retail, beauty services and distribution.

However, access to finance, business development support and wider markets remains important to entrepreneurs seeking to grow beyond small-scale operations.

What Beauty in the Motherland offers entrepreneurs

Beauty in the Motherland 2026 featured exhibitions, product showcases, competitions, networking sessions and business discussions.

The programme provided a platform for businesses to present their products, meet potential customers and explore relationships with distributors, commercial partners and investors.

Organisers Beatrice Obinna Eneh and Linda Edozien said the initiative was established to celebrate and advance the human and natural resources underpinning the African beauty industry.

They said its long-term ambition was to strengthen industry structures, empower entrepreneurs and improve access to markets.

The commemorative dinner, hosted by Nancy Isime and Enioluwa Adeoluwa, brought together business owners, investors, industry leaders and creatives. Nigerian singer Yemi Alade also performed at the event.

Beyond event sponsorship

Fidelity Bank said its support for small businesses extends beyond the beauty industry event through programmes including the Fidelity SME Hub, Fidelity Quarterly Business Forum, SME masterclasses, HerFidelity and FundHer.

The initiatives offer services and opportunities spanning financing, business training, advisory support, digital solutions and market access.

For beauty businesses, the effectiveness of such interventions will ultimately depend on whether entrepreneurs can access the services, meet the requirements for support and translate the opportunities into sustainable growth.

As Nigeria’s beauty and personal care market attracts entrepreneurs and consumers, the availability of suitable financial services and reliable payment infrastructure remains one of the factors shaping how businesses operate and expand.

The bank’s continued participation in Beauty in the Motherland places digital payments and business support alongside the event’s broader effort to connect entrepreneurs with customers, investors and potential commercial partners.

NigeriaUpdates will continue to follow developments affecting small businesses, women entrepreneurs and Nigeria’s wider enterprise sector.

The Nigeria Customs Service plans to reduce cargo clearance delays and duplicated compliance checks at the Lekki Free Trade Zone as its new acting area controller, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi, sets out measures aimed at improving trade efficiency and revenue collection.

Kukoyi said the Lekki Free Trade Zone Command would prioritise digital customs processes, a single-window system and a post-clearance review mechanism to make procedures more predictable for businesses while maintaining enforcement against smuggling, false declarations and other violations.

The proposed changes could affect importers, exporters, logistics operators and manufacturers using the industrial and trade hub, where clearance delays and administrative procedures can add to the cost of moving goods.

However, the extent to which the plans will shorten clearance times or reduce business costs will depend on their implementation and how effectively Customs coordinates with other regulatory agencies.

Customs targets repeated checks on cleared cargo

One of Kukoyi’s priorities is the full operationalisation of the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Post-Clearance Mechanism, which is intended to streamline the handling of transactions flagged for further compliance checks after cargo has been released.

Under the proposed arrangement, cases involving valuation, classification and other compliance concerns would be referred to the designated mechanism for comprehensive review and resolution, rather than facing multiple alerts or interventions along the corridor.

Kukoyi said the approach would help prevent legitimate trade from being unnecessarily disrupted while allowing Customs to address potential compliance breaches.

For businesses, the intended benefit is greater certainty over cargo movement and fewer repeated interventions. The actual impact will depend on how consistently the mechanism is applied and how quickly flagged cases are resolved.

Digital reforms to support faster clearance

The Acting Controller also identified the National Single Window Project as a key part of the Command’s trade facilitation agenda.

The Federal Government initiative is designed to connect relevant regulatory agencies through a digital platform, allowing traders to submit documentation and obtain approvals through a single point rather than navigating separate processes.

Kukoyi said the Command would support its full implementation, arguing that a more integrated system could reduce cargo dwell time, lower transaction costs and improve the competitiveness of the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

He also highlighted the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System and other information and communication technology initiatives as tools for improving operational efficiency, accelerating clearance, limiting revenue leakages and strengthening accountability.

The reforms are intended to align Customs operations with the Federal Government’s ease-of-doing-business agenda and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

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Revenue collection remains a priority

Alongside efforts to facilitate trade, Kukoyi said the Command would work to sustain revenue performance and strengthen enforcement against smuggling and false declarations.

He said the administration would build on the work of his predecessor, Comptroller Hauwa K. Abubakar, while promoting transparency, discipline and professionalism among officers.

The balance between faster clearance and effective enforcement will be important to the Command’s new approach. While businesses need predictable procedures, Customs must also ensure that import declarations, cargo valuations and other regulatory requirements are properly checked.

Kukoyi said the Command would deepen collaboration with stakeholders and sister government agencies, describing cooperation as essential to national security, economic growth and efficient trade operations.

What the new leadership expects from officers

Kukoyi urged officers and men of the Command to uphold integrity and professionalism, warning against compromise and unprofessional conduct.

He said achieving the Command’s objectives would require collective commitment from personnel, stakeholders and partner agencies.

The Acting Controller also thanked Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the confidence placed in him. He said his administration would align with the Comptroller-General’s policy direction of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.

He commended Abubakar for laying what he described as a solid foundation in revenue generation, trade facilitation, enforcement and stakeholder management, and wished her a peaceful retirement.

Implementation will determine the impact

The announced priorities set out an agenda for improving cargo clearance, digital coordination and revenue collection at the Lekki Free Trade Zone Command.

For businesses, the key measures to watch will be whether the post-clearance mechanism reduces repeated interventions, whether digital platforms simplify documentation and approvals, and whether cargo processing becomes more predictable.

The Command has outlined its intentions, but measurable improvements in clearance times, compliance procedures and operating costs will be needed to establish the practical effect of the reforms.

Kukoyi’s administration is therefore entering a phase in which the delivery of its trade facilitation commitments will be as important as the policies themselves.