Nigeria’s First Class Refreshment Limited has secured franchise rights from Saudi Arabia’s Silk United Company in a landmark agreement aimed at promoting Saudi-made products through a Lagos-based operation.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of First Class Group, Dr Shuaibu Burji, said the agreement, signed in Riyadh, marked a strategic move to expand Nigeria’s footprint in international trade. Under the deal, the Nigerian firm will operate Silk United’s business model in Nigeria, with Lagos serving as the hub for marketing, distribution and trade facilitation.
Burji explained that the franchise arrangement would see First Class Refreshment promote and distribute high-quality, non-oil Saudi products in the Nigerian market, while also coordinating logistics, customs processes and market access for businesses and consumers. He noted that the collaboration is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s import-export value chain, improve access to internationally certified products and enhance consumer confidence in Saudi-made goods.
He said the development aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s aspiration of building a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030, adding that as a certified Authorised Economic Operator, First Class Refreshment is well positioned for international expansion. According to him, the company also plans to export traditional Nigerian snacks to global markets, deepen bilateral trade links and support economic diversification, while positioning Nigeria as a regional trade hub.
Burji added that the initiative complements Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda by promoting economic diversification and creating a sustainable commercial bridge between Nigeria and the Kingdom. With the Lagos office expected to become operational in the coming months, the company is set to play a growing role in cross-border trade and economic cooperation between both countries.
