Airtel Africa declares ₦41.77 interim dividend for shareholders

Airtel Africa has scheduled an interim dividend payment of ₦41.77 per share for December 11, 2026. This payout covers the first half of 2027, spanning April to September 2026, and applies to shareholders registered on the company’s books by November 13, 2026. The announcement was made through a filing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX).

The dividend, originally stated as 3.1 cents per share (approximately $0.031), converts to ₦41.77 using the exchange rate of $1 = ₦1,347.44, effective October 30, 2026. Shareholders listed on the NGX will receive payments in naira unless they choose U.S. dollars by submitting forms to Coronation Registrars Limited by November 23, 2026. Those who do not opt in will automatically receive their payout in naira.

For Nigerian investors, the cutoff date to hold shares is November 12, 2026. The company’s decision to fix the payout rate at ₦1,347.44 per U.S. dollar and £0.7464 per U.S. dollar demonstrates its strategy to manage currency fluctuations during periods of exchange rate volatility.

This dividend follows Airtel Africa’s reported 20.5% increase in profit after tax, reaching $452 million for the half-year ended September 2026. The prior year’s profit for the same period was $376 million. Operating profit grew 34.2% to $1.286 billion, while the total customer base expanded 11.6% to 193.9 million. Data subscribers specifically increased 15% to 89.9 million.

International shareholders trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) will receive dividends in U.S. dollars by default. Those wishing to receive payouts in British pounds must submit forms to Computershare by November 23, 2026. The final trading date for LSE shares to qualify for the dividend is November 11, 2026.

Airtel Africa’s dividend announcement aligns with its share buyback program, under which it will purchase and cancel up to 12 million ordinary shares by December 22, 2026. The canceled shares will not be retained for future issuance. This initiative reflects a broader trend among African telecom companies to return capital to shareholders while preserving financial flexibility.

In comparison, MTN Nigeria distributed an interim dividend of ₦26 per share on September 7, 2026. Eligibility required shareholders to hold stock by August 20, 2026. The total payout amounted to approximately ₦545.89 billion, distributed among over 203,000 shareholders. MTN Group Limited, which holds roughly 73% to 75% of MTN Nigeria, remains the majority stakeholder.