MTN, Nigerian Breweries, and Guinness to Resume Dividend Payments as Financial Pressure Eases

Story:written By Uzuh Rita August 20,2025
Major Nigerian companies, including MTN Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries (NB), and Guinness Nigeria, have announced their plans to resume dividend payments to shareholders, as financial pressures that had previously hampered these companies begin to ease.

MTN Nigeria, the largest telecom operator in the country, confirmed that it would pay dividends after a brief hiatus, attributing the resumption to a more stable macroeconomic environment and improved earnings performance. The company had previously suspended its dividend payments due to a combination of regulatory hurdles and currency fluctuations that affected profitability. However, with the easing of these pressures, MTN has stated that it is now in a better position to reward shareholders.

Similarly, Nigerian Breweries, a subsidiary of global beverage giant Heineken, and Guinness Nigeria have also revealed plans to resume dividend payouts. Both companies faced a challenging economic environment over the past few years, characterized by inflationary pressures, rising production costs, and a volatile naira. These factors forced the companies to either reduce or temporarily suspend dividend distributions in order to stabilize their financial positions.

The resumption of dividend payments by these major players is seen as a positive sign for Nigeria’s corporate sector, indicating that the worst of the economic turbulence may be over. Analysts believe that the recovery in consumer spending, along with efforts to streamline operations and manage costs, has allowed these companies to return to profitability and resume rewarding investors.

The move is expected to boost investor confidence in the Nigerian stock market, which has faced its share of volatility in recent years. Investors are hopeful that this trend of dividend payments will continue as other companies follow suit in responding to the improved financial climate