Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reported that listed companies declared N1.1 trillion in dividends to shareholders in 2024. Of this, N1.0 trillion has already been disbursed, highlighting a boost in market confidence and investor returns.

According to the SEC Director-General, Dr Emomotimi Agama, the commission approved N3.68 trillion in new issues between January and December 2024. This included N59.82 billion in fixed-income issuances and N3.62 trillion in equities, indicating strong investor appetite and issuer confidence in the equity market.

For the period covering January to April 2025, he stated that the SEC had so far approved new issues worth approximately N446.38 billion.

Out of this amount, N265.90 billion was raised through fixed-income instruments, while equities accounted for N180.48 billion.

In the area of mergers and acquisitions, he disclosed that the commission approved 11 transactions in 2024 with a total value of N320.36 billion.

Agama stated that the commission also recorded three corporate restructuring transactions, two share capital reconstructions, one takeover, and four securities registrations.

Notable among these were Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc’s scheme of arrangement valued at over N105 billion, and a share capital consolidation by Transnational Corporation Plc, amounting to N5.08 billion.

“So far in 2025, the SEC has approved three major transactions totalling N38.53 billion. These include two takeovers and one corporate restructuring. “

He stated that no mergers had been recorded during the review period but noted that strategic consolidation and reorganisation efforts had continued to shape key sectors, underscoring sustained market activity.