Dangote Cement shareholders have approved a record N753.8bn dividend as the company accelerates African expansion and capacity growth to 80 million tonnes by 2030. Strong operational gains underpin the payout
Shareholders of Dangote Cement Plc approved a final dividend of N45 per ordinary share for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 at the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, bringing the total payout to an unprecedented N753.8 billion.
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The approval came as the company, Africa’s largest cement producer, reaffirmed its long-term strategy of expanding across the continent through aggressive investments in production capacity, cleaner energy, and operational efficiency.
Emmanuel Ikazoboh, Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, told shareholders the firm was positioning Africa for self-sustaining industrial growth by leveraging local resources and strategic investments.
Dr Faruk Umar, National President of the Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, lauded the group’s overarching focus on continental independence.
“The key thing for this year’s AGM is transforming Africa,” he said.
“You will notice that our founder is trying to ensure he positions Africa to be the source of our own wealth, using our own wealth to take care of our own business and activities, rather than depending on investors from other parts of the world coming to help us build our continent.”
This year’s 50 per cent dividend increase reflects deeper strategic moves, particularly in exports and operational improvements that have overcome past logistical challenges.
The company is intensifying efforts to cut transportation and energy costs through investments in compressed natural gas powered trucks and alternative fuels, including converting waste into energy for manufacturing operations.
Group Managing Director Arvind Pathak highlighted that performance was underpinned by deliberate investments in exports, logistics, and efficiency.
“We intend to grow from 55 million tonnes to 80 million tonnes,” he stated, aligning with the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030.
Shareholder and financial analyst Mr Nornah Awoh commended the board’s financial discipline, pointing to the deployment of 3,000 CNG trucks, a 50 per cent reduction in bank borrowings, and a 101 per cent increase in first-quarter performance compared with the previous year.
He noted that the company’s profitability had crossed N1 trillion for the first time, with the stock price surpassing 1,000 naira.
Awoh emphasised the value of the company’s cross-border footprint, including new operations in Côte d’Ivoire alongside existing presence in Tanzania and other markets.
He urged a long-term perspective on returns. “A dividend is not the only benefit of an investment,” he said.
“What I am satisfied with when I invest, which is exactly the case with Dangote, is that I see a future. For a company that is constantly expanding, it means sustainability.”
The planned addition of 25 million tonnes of production capacity has reinforced shareholder confidence that Dangote Cement will continue creating generational wealth.
This dividend milestone arrives against a backdrop of steady growth since the company’s early pan-African expansions, where it has consistently invested in local manufacturing to reduce import dependence across the continent.
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The strong payout and forward-looking strategy highlight the tangible human and economic impact of sustained industrial investment in Africa, offering shareholders both immediate rewards and confidence in the company’s enduring role in regional development.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
