Shareholders of Dangote Cement Plc have approved the company's highest-ever dividend payout after endorsing a 50 per cent increase in dividends at its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos.
The decision will see investors receive a total payout of ₦753.8 billion, reflecting the company's robust financial performance during the 2025 financial year.
The approved dividend increases shareholders' returns from ₦30 per share to ₦45 per share, representing one of the biggest dividend increases in the Nigerian capital market this year.
Company executives said the decision demonstrates Dangote Cement's commitment to rewarding investors while maintaining long-term business growth.
Chairman of Dangote Cement, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, described the dividend increase as evidence of the company's resilience despite operating in a challenging economic environment.
He noted that the board remained committed to creating sustainable value for shareholders through disciplined financial management, sound corporate governance, and operational excellence.
According to Ikazoboh, the company's earnings per share rose significantly to ₦59.86 during the 2025 financial year, providing a strong foundation for the record dividend declaration.
He thanked shareholders for their continued confidence in the business, assuring them that the company would continue pursuing strategies that deliver long-term value.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Arvind Pathak, said the increased dividend reflects Dangote Cement's strong earnings capacity and healthy cash generation.
He explained that the company remains financially positioned to reward investors while simultaneously investing in expansion projects that will strengthen its leadership across Africa's cement industry.
Pathak disclosed that Dangote Cement commissioned a new three-million-tonne-per-annum grinding plant in Côte d'Ivoire during 2025, expanding the company's installed production capacity to 55 million tonnes per annum across 11 African countries.
The expansion forms part of the company's long-term strategy to strengthen its footprint throughout the continent.
He further revealed that Dangote Cement is targeting an ambitious production capacity of 80 million tonnes per annum by 2030 through additional investments, capacity expansion projects, improved operational efficiency, sustainability initiatives, and stronger export activities.
The company believes these investments will position it for continued growth over the coming years.
Management also highlighted ongoing investments in logistics infrastructure, energy efficiency, alternative fuel adoption, and plant modernisation as part of efforts to maintain competitiveness while improving profitability.
These projects are expected to reduce operating costs, improve production efficiency, and support the company's expansion objectives across Africa.
Market analysts say the record dividend reinforces Dangote Cement's position as one of Nigeria's most profitable listed companies and one of the biggest contributors to shareholder wealth on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
The payout is also expected to strengthen investor confidence in the company's long-term growth prospects.
The announcement comes at a time when many publicly listed companies are facing higher operating costs resulting from inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and rising energy expenses.
Despite these challenges, Dangote Cement reported strong financial performance, enabling the company to significantly increase returns to shareholders while continuing its expansion strategy.
Industry experts believe the dividend declaration sends a positive signal to both local and foreign investors regarding the resilience of Nigeria's manufacturing sector.
They note that companies capable of maintaining strong earnings while expanding operations are likely to remain attractive investment destinations despite prevailing economic uncertainties.
Beyond rewarding investors, Dangote Cement's continued expansion across Africa is expected to strengthen regional cement production capacity, improve export opportunities, create additional employment, and contribute to infrastructure development across several African economies.
Company executives say sustainable growth remains central to achieving these long-term objectives.
As shareholders prepare to receive the record payout, market observers will closely monitor Dangote Cement's performance in the coming financial year to see whether the company can sustain its earnings momentum while advancing toward its ambitious 2030 production target.
The latest dividend approval reinforces the company's reputation as one of Nigeria's leading dividend-paying firms and highlights its confidence in future growth.