Dangote Cement Plc has received approval from its shareholders to pay a final dividend of N45 per ordinary share for the 2025 financial year. The payment brings the company’s total dividend payout to a record N753.8 billion, making it one of the biggest rewards ever given to shareholders by the company.
The approval was given during the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. At the meeting, Chairman Emmanuel Ikazoboh explained that Dangote Cement remains committed to expanding its operations across Africa while investing in better production systems, cleaner energy, and improved efficiency.
According to Ikazoboh, the company’s long-term goal is to help drive Africa’s industrial development by using the continent’s natural resources and building strong local industries. He said the company wants Africa to become more self-reliant instead of depending heavily on foreign investors for growth.
The National President of the Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Faruk Umar, praised Dangote Cement’s vision. He said the company is focused on creating wealth within Africa and ensuring that African businesses play a leading role in developing the continent.
Umar also noted that the 50 percent increase in dividend payments did not happen by chance. He explained that the company achieved this through careful planning, stronger export activities, and expansion into new markets that were previously difficult to reach. He expressed confidence that the company would continue building on its recent success in the coming years.
As part of its efforts to reduce operating costs, Dangote Cement is investing heavily in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks. These trucks help lower transportation expenses while reducing fuel costs. The company is also increasing the use of alternative fuels by converting waste materials into energy for its manufacturing plants. This move supports both cost savings and environmental sustainability.
Group Managing Director Arvind Pathak said the company’s impressive performance is the result of continuous investments in exports, logistics, and operational efficiency. He revealed that Dangote Cement plans to increase its annual production capacity from 55 million tonnes to 80 million tonnes by 2030. This expansion forms part of the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 strategy.
Financial analyst and shareholder Nornah Awoh also commended the company’s management for making smart financial decisions. He highlighted the deployment of 3,000 CNG trucks and a 50 percent reduction in bank loans as major achievements that have improved profitability.
Awoh noted that the company’s first-quarter performance was over 100 percent higher than the same period last year. He believes that if the current growth continues throughout the year, shareholders could receive even higher dividends in the future.
He added that Dangote Cement is expected to benefit from the Dangote Refinery by receiving diesel and gas supplies directly, which could further reduce operating costs and increase profits.
Awoh also praised the company’s continued expansion into countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and several other African markets. According to him, this wider presence across the continent will strengthen the business and create more opportunities for future growth.
He stressed that investors should not focus only on dividend payments but also on the long-term sustainability of a company. Awoh said Dangote Cement’s consistent expansion, rising profitability, and future production plans show that the company is building lasting value for shareholders.
With plans to add another 25 million tonnes of production capacity and continue expanding across Africa, Dangote Cement aims to remain one of the continent’s leading manufacturing companies while delivering long-term value to investors.
