By Franklin Adole
Dangote Cement Plc has paid more than ₦3.3 trillion in dividends to shareholders in the last 15 years, according to figures released during a “Facts Behind the Figures” presentation at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in Lagos on Wednesday.
The new chairman of the company, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, who recently succeeded Aliko Dangote, said the cement producer would maintain consistent returns for investors while pursuing its goal of making Africa self-sufficient in cement and clinker.
Chief Executive Officer Arvind Pathak disclosed that Dangote Cement plans to raise its installed capacity to 66.4 million tonnes per annum (Mta) by 2030, through a mix of new and existing projects. These include the ongoing construction of the 6Mta Itori Plant in Nigeria, the commissioning of the first phase (1.5Mta) of the 3Mta Côte d’Ivoire plant, and a planned $400 million expansion in Ethiopia.
Pathak said the company has invested over $8.5 billion across Africa over the past 15 years and that growth in gas-based industries and construction across the region underpins its long-term confidence in market demand.
In 2024, Dangote Cement paid ₦502.6 billion in dividends, equivalent to ₦30 per share, despite foreign exchange pressures and ongoing expansion costs. The company also reported a 469.8 per cent increase in corporate social responsibility spending to ₦3.2 billion, with projects in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and economic empowerment.
At the event, NGX Group Chairman Umaru Kwairanga commended Aliko Dangote’s role in strengthening the Nigerian capital market, while the Group CEO of NGX, Temi Popoola, said the appointment of Ikazoboh as chairman would reassure shareholders.
Shareholder groups present at the Exchange also expressed satisfaction with the company’s performance and dividend record, noting that Dangote Cement remained one of the most consistent payers in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.