Shareholders of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc at the weekend approved the payment of N12.18 billion in cash dividends and distribution of 278.44 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each as bonus shares for the 2025 business year.

The N12.18 billion cash dividend for the 2025 business year represented an increase from N11.58 billion paid for the 2024 business year, marking five consecutive years of increase in payouts in the company’s long history of unbroken dividend payment.

Shareholders received a dividend per share of N6.25 for the 2025 business year. Also, with the bonus issue of one ordinary share of 50 kobo each for every seven ordinary shares held, shareholders saw an automatic 14.3 per cent increase in their shareholdings.

A shareholder with 1,000 shares received additional bonus shares of about 143 shares, increasing the total shareholding to 1,143 shares.

At the meeting, shareholders said they were impressed with NAHCO’s sustained performance and the investor-friendly disposition of the board of the company.

They noted that NAHCO has continued to witness strong fundamental performance every year, which has also seen consecutive improvement in dividends to shareholders.

President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr Faruk Umar, said the fundamental performance of the company has given shareholders hope for continuous improvement in dividends.

He said investors’ confidence in NAHCO is reflective of the operational results of the company, which have continued to improve every year.

He said: “They have done very well. NAHCO is a delight to us as shareholders. Look at the results, look at the share price and look at our dividends; everything is so remarkable. Last year, the price was N80 per share; today it is over N200, that’s an increase of more than 150 per cent.

keep growing the business, which gives us hope of higher dividends. We believe the dividend next year will be much higher”.

Founding National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN),
Sunny Nwosu, said NAHCO has endeared itself to shareholders with its performance and dividends to shareholders.

He said the steady rally of the company’s share price was because shareholders want more of NAHCO’s shares, while existing shareholders hardly want to sell such a highly rewarding investment.