Economy
Dangote Cement Assures Shareholders Lasting Value, Pays N753.8bn Dividend
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Shareholders of Dangote Cement Plc have been assured of lasting value for their investment and trust in the cement producing firm.
This assurance was given by the chief executive of Dangote Cement, Mr Arvind Pathak, at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), where shareholders approved the payment of N753.8 billion as dividend for the 2025 financial year.
The cement brewer paid a cash reward of N45 per share for the year, a 50 per cent increase in dividend payout from the N30 per share a year earlier, reaffirming the company’s position as one of the most rewarding investments on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The increase follows the company’s outstanding 2025 financial performance and underscores its unwavering commitment to shareholder value creation.
It was the highest dividend payout in the history of Dangote Cement and reflects the strength of its earnings capacity, robust cash generation ability, and disciplined execution of its growth strategy
Dangote Cement delivered a landmark financial performance in 2025. Earnings per share rose significantly to N59.86, demonstrating the company’s resilience and operational excellence despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges.
Mr Pathak said the dividend increase is backed by the organisation’s strong financial performance and healthy balance sheet.
“The decision to increase our dividend by 50 per cent to N45 per share demonstrates the strength of Dangote Cement’s earnings capacity and cash generation capability.
“As we continue to execute our pan-African growth strategy, we remain committed to creating lasting value for our shareholders, investing in the future of the business, and supporting Africa’s industrial development. Our shareholders have stood by us throughout our journey, and we are delighted to reward that trust with another significant increase in returns,” he stated.
The chief executive noted that the firm continues to strengthen its footprint across Africa through strategic investments and capacity expansion projects.
In 2025, Dangote Cement commissioned a 3-million-tonne-per-annum grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing its presence in West Africa and increasing total installed capacity to 55 million tonnes per annum (Mta) across eleven African countries.
He added that the Company remains focused on its long-term objective of expanding installed capacity to 80Mta by 2030, while driving operational efficiency, increasing exports, enhancing sustainability initiatives, and improving shareholder returns.
On his part, the chairman of Dangote Cement, Mr Emmanuel Ikazoboh, said the increase in dividend payout reflects the company’s determination to reward shareholders for their continued confidence and support.
“Our commitment remains to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. This significant increase in dividend demonstrates the strength of our business model, our disciplined approach to capital allocation, and our confidence in the future. We are grateful for the trust our shareholders have placed in us over the years and remain committed to delivering superior returns while maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance and operational excellence,” he stated.
The organisation’s dividend history has continued to set benchmarks in the Nigerian capital market. Over the past 15 years, Dangote Cement has distributed more than N3.3 trillion in dividends to shareholders, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable creator of long-term wealth.
The latest dividend increase follows a previous 50 per cent rise from N20 per share to N30 per share, underscoring a consistent record of rewarding shareholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Debt Management Office (DMO) on Monday allotted bonds worth N929.3 billion to investors from the N1.7 trillion bids it received from subscribers.
The exercise, which took place on Monday, July 20, 2026, was oversubscribed by market participants, reflecting the confidence investors have in the government’s ability to redeem the debt instrument on maturity.
On offer for sale for the July auction was N1.2 trillion worth of the FGN bonds, but the DMO allotted below this, despite receiving bids above the offer.
The papers were offered in 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year tenors, at N400 billion each.
For the decade-old note, investors staked N444.47 billion, but the debt office sold N245.73 billion at an 18.34 per cent coupon rate. For the one and a half-decade-old paper, bids valued at N518.00 billion were received by the DMO, with a non-competitive bid of N50.00 billion, with N302.13 billion allotted to investors at 18.40 per cent, and for the two-decade paper, the DMO got competitive bids of N665.19 billion and N381.46 billion was sold to bondholders at 18.35 per cent.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, disclosed that Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to $52.5 billion, enough to finance about nine months of imports.
He disclosed this on Tuesday at the end of the 306th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held in Abuja, where the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) retained the benchmark interest rate at 26.50 per cent as well as the standing facilities corridor at +50/-450 basis points around the MPR.
Similarly, the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) was maintained at 45 per cent for Deposit Money Banks, 16 per cent for Merchant Banks, and 75 per cent for non-Treasury Single Account (TSA) public sector deposits.
Speaking on FX developments, the central banker said at the $52 billion level, the country’s external reserves were significantly above the internationally recommended threshold of three months of import cover.
On the Naira exchange rate, Mr Cardoso said the foreign exchange market had deepened and was now operating on a transparent willing-buyer, willing-seller basis.
He said the apex bank remained committed to maintaining a liquid and functional foreign exchange market, adding that daily market turnover sometimes exceeded $1 billion.
According to him, the long-term stability of the naira would depend on key economic fundamentals, including increased oil exports, foreign direct investment, and improved domestic productivity to reduce dependence on imports.
He also added that the MPC welcomed the federal government’s renewed commitment to stronger policy coordination, particularly collaboration between fiscal and monetary authorities, which he said had helped reduce the impact of the Middle East crisis on the Nigerian economy.
Mr Cardoso said members of the committee also commended efforts to improve crude oil production and urged relevant agencies to intensify reforms in other sectors, including solid minerals, to boost government revenue.
On the regulatory forbearance granted to banks during the COVID-19 period, he reiterated that this had been discontinued because it had served its purpose.
According to him, the policy had “outlived its time” and was no longer necessary in assessing the health of the banking sector.
“Forbearance, we felt, had outlived its time. Many of you will recall this is something that came as a result of COVID. And now we are in 2026; we did not see the reason why that should continue to form part of the analysis of the banking system,” he said.
Mr Cardoso explained that banks had begun recalibrating their portfolios following the end of the policy, leading to a temporary reduction in outstanding risk assets.
He, however, assured that the development was part of a transition towards a stronger and more sustainable credit environment.
“It reflects a transition to a more sustainable and better quality credit environment, which is what we all want. We don’t want unanticipated shocks that come in a boom-and-bust fashion,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange extended its recent positive run by 1.17 per cent on Tuesday, July 21, triggered by appreciation seen in four bellwethers.
Leading the pack was FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which added N12.00 to its value to close at N153.15 per share compared with the previous day’s N141.15 per share. NASD Plc appreciated by N1.90 to N36.00 per unit from N34.10 per unit, Food Concepts Plc improved by 23 Kobo to N2.48 per share from N2.25 per share, and Afriland Properties Plc grew by a marginal 1 Kobo to N15.01 per unit from N15.00 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation of the bourse increased by N30.40 billion to N2.637 trillion from Monday’s N2.606 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) gained 50.70 points to finish at 4,393.97 points, in contrast to the 4,343.27 points it ended a day earlier.
The unlisted securities exchange recorded a price loser yesterday, and it was Geo-Fluids Plc, which shed 1 Kobo to settle at N2.30 per share versus N2.31 per share.
During the trading day, the volume of securities traded by market participants on Tuesday dropped 99.4 per cent to 322,147 units from the previous day’s 52.6 million units, the value of securities dipped by 89.8 per cent to N19.4 million from the preceding session’s N191.2 million, and the number of deals contracted by 3.6 per cent to 27 deals from 28 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended the day as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 75.4 million units exchanged for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million.
