Economy
Strong Customer Growth in Nigeria Buoys Airtel Africa 9-month Results
By Dipo Olowookere
After getting battered by the implementation of new know your customer requirements by the Nigerian authorities, Airtel Africa is beginning to see an improvement in its customer base.
In its unaudited financial statements for nine months ended December 31, 2021, the leading telco said it recorded 1.9 million net additions in the third quarter, taking total group customer additions to 3.1 million.
This supported that 21.7 per cent revenue growth to $3.492 million from $2.850 million achieved in the same period of 2020.
A closer look into the revenue line showed that voice accounted for $1.747 million compared with $1.537 million in the first nine months of the preceding accounting year, while data contributed $1.127 million as against $842 million of the earlier period, with mobile money accounting for $406 million versus $291 million and other revenue contributing $306 million as against $255 million in 2020.
Business Post observed that the revenue of Airtel Africa grew partly because of a one-time exceptional revenue of $20 million relating to a settlement in the Niger Republic.
Excluding this, revenue grew by 22.5 per cent in reported currency and by 24.8 per cent in constant currency, with the difference relating to currency devaluations, mainly in the Nigerian naira (6.3 per cent) and the Malawian kwacha (8.2 per cent), in turn partially offset by appreciation in the Ugandan shilling (4.3 per cent) and the Central African franc (2.0 per cent).
Revenue growth for the 9 months period benefitted from a weakened performance in the first quarter of the prior year during the peak period of COVID-19 related restrictions across the region. However, even after adjusting for this, group revenue growth rates were ahead of FY’21.
“A strong third quarter has contributed to a pleasing nine-month financial performance across all key metrics.
“Operationally, we have continued to execute on our network and distribution expansion plans, driving continued strong growth in ARPUs across voice, data and mobile money.
“We have also seen further improvement in our customer growth trends for the group with Nigeria returning to strong customer growth,” the chief executive of Airtel Africa, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, stated.
In the period under review, the operating profit of the firm grew by 43.1 per cent to $1.146 million in reported currency, while profit after tax almost doubled to $514 million as higher profit before tax more than offset associated tax charges, with the basic earnings per share (EPS) at 11.7 cents, an increase of 113.8 per cent, largely as a result of higher profit.
This good performance excited Mr Ogunsanya, who noted that, “I am particularly pleased with developments in Nigeria, where in November we received approval in principle for both a payment service bank (mobile money) licence and a super-agent licence.”
“We are now working closely with the Central Bank (of Nigeria) to meet all its conditions to receive the final operating licences and commence operations.
“This will enable us to expand our digital financial products and reach the millions of Nigerians that do not have access to traditional financial services,” he assured.
He disclosed that the company “continued to strengthen our balance sheet, with our leverage ratio now 1.4 times underlying EBITDA, thanks to both to continued increases in operating cash flow delivery and to over $550 million of cash that has now been received from minority investments into our mobile money business.”
“We will continue to invest in expanding and evolving our platform to further deepen both financial and digital inclusion across Africa. I continue to see huge growth potential across voice, data and mobile money and our strategy is delivering against this opportunity.
“Our sustained investments in both network and distribution expansion will help to ensure that both the communities and economies across our footprint will continue to benefit from increased and affordable connectivity and financial inclusion.
“We are committed to continuing to improve the delivery of our services to our customers, with sustainability at the heart of our continued purpose to transform lives across Africa,” he added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has been urged to give all the necessary support to indigenous investors, as they remain Nigeria’s most important drivers of employment, foreign exchange generation and long-term economic resilience.
This advice was given by foremost businessman, Mr Aliko Dangote, when he welcomed the Minister of State for Industry, Mr John Owan Enoh, to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos recently.
The business mogul noted that efforts must be made to place industrialisation at the centre of the government’s economic strategy, insisting that no nation has attained prosperity without a strong manufacturing base.
“If Nigeria is to achieve sustainable growth and become a trillion-dollar economy, industrialisation must be the foundation. Indigenous investors remain the strongest catalysts for that transformation,” Mr Dangote stated.
He further stated that, “There is no way to create jobs and prosperity without industrialisation,” declaring that, “The greatest attraction for foreign investors is the success of domestic investors. When local investors thrive, they send a powerful signal that the environment is conducive for investment.”
In his remarks, the Minister promised deeper collaboration with the private sector to accelerate industrialisation, job creation and economic transformation.
He also pledged that the Ministry and its agencies would remain strong advocates of the refinery and the broader industrialisation agenda, adding that the government would continue to engage Dangote Industries Limited through the Industrial Revolution Work Group and ministerial roundtables to address challenges facing manufacturers, particularly access to affordable long-term financing.
Mr Enoh described the integrated industrial complex as one of the most significant investments in Africa and a model for the type of industrial development required to drive Nigeria’s economic growth aspirations.
“This facility matters because of what it represents for Nigerian industry, for our people and for the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a one trillion-dollar economy,” he stated, noting that the refinery has emerged as a powerful symbol of value addition, industrial competitiveness and Nigeria’s growing manufacturing capability.
The Minister noted that the refinery has fundamentally changed global perceptions of Nigeria by helping to transform the country from a major importer of refined petroleum products into an exporter serving international markets.
“When global supply disruptions occurred, Nigeria was able to export petroleum products to markets in the Middle East and beyond. That is an extraordinary achievement and one that deserves recognition,” he added.
By Bon Peters
The Port Harcourt Area I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, handed over a consignment of intercepted expired medicaments to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Rivers State.
The command’s spokesperson, Barilule Aanee, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, said in a statement that the transfer of the items underscored the strong inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding public health.
The handover was witnessed by representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), other security agencies, freight forwarding associations, stakeholders and members of the media.
The Customs Area Controller for the command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, stated that the seizure was a clear demonstration of the agency’s commitment to preventing harmful and prohibited pharmaceutical products from finding their way into Nigerian markets, disclosing that the expired medicaments were intercepted during a joint examination conducted by officers of the command in collaboration with NAFDAC and other relevant agencies.
She added that the consignment contained several cartons of expired pharmaceutical products with a Combined Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of over N50 million.
Ms Atuluku emphasised that the interception prevented what could have resulted in serious public health consequences, as expired medicines posed significant health risks, including treatment failure, drug toxicity and antimicrobial resistance.
She reaffirmed that her organisation “would remain resolute in protecting the nation’s borders against the importation of expired, substandard, falsified and prohibited goods.”
Receiving the items, the Deputy Director of NAFDAC for Port Inspection Directorate, Mr Adepoju Bayo Raufu, commended the customs for its vigilance and sustained partnership in protecting Nigerians from harmful pharmaceutical products.
He assured that the agency would immediately commence the necessary regulatory procedures to ensure the safe disposal of the expired medicaments in accordance with established laws and guidelines.
By Adedapo Adesanya
United Capital Plc has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to surpass N2 trillion in total assets by the end of 2026, following a strong first-half performance that saw gross earnings rise by 58 per cent to N37.9 billion and profit before tax increase by 80 per cent.
The company disclosed this during its H1 investor relations call on Wednesday, where executives outlined plans to drive growth through digital transformation, Pan-African expansion, and disciplined capital management.
Speaking during the call, Group Managing Director of United Capital Plc, Mr Peter Ashade, said the company is undergoing a major “retooling” process to position itself for long-term growth beyond Nigeria.
“We are equipping from people, technology, governance, and our structure as we retool because what we see ahead is bigger than where we are today,” Mr Ashade said.
He noted that the firm’s long-term vision is to build a platform that allows clients to trade seamlessly across its African footprint, including Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal and Burkina Faso.
Mr Ashade added that the company has deliberately reduced its borrowing in favour of expanding its managed funds business, which it considers its biggest growth opportunity.
“We have decided deliberately to reduce our borrowing so that we can focus on growing managed funds to about 71 per cent of our funding size, which is where we see the greatest opportunities for the group,” he said.
He disclosed that managed funds have recorded significant growth, while total assets have already exceeded the N1 trillion mark.
“Our target for this year is to do over N2 trillion in terms of total assets,” he added.
Providing a breakdown of the financial performance, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr Shedrack Onakpoma, said profit before tax rose to N24.78 billion, significantly outpacing revenue growth as a result of improved operational efficiency.
“We are building a resilient and thriving institution of great repute that focuses on sustainable value creation and delivery across multiple markets,” Mr Onakpoma said.
“The numbers tell a story of innovation and how we are building a lasting legacy that goes beyond mere revenue growth or short-term profitability.”
Addressing shareholders’ concerns over the company’s 30 kobo interim dividend, the firm’s Chief Economist, Ayodele Akunwunmi, said the decision reflects a long-term capital allocation strategy anchored on the residual dividend theory.
“Residual dividend theory says that a company must finance all profitable investments available from internally generated cash flows before paying the residual to shareholders,” Mr Akunwunmi explained.
“By financing our expansion this way rather than borrowing money that would dilute earnings, we have the opportunity to grow the bottom line and potentially double profitability in the future.”
He urged shareholders to focus on the company’s broader value creation strategy, arguing that prioritising investment today would generate stronger returns over the long term.
