Naira Devaluation Biggest Mess Of 2023- Dangote Laments After His Company Lost Billions
At the annual general meeting of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, expressed his dismay at the devaluation of the naira, Nigeria’s currency,
He described it as the biggest mess for his company in 2023.
Dangote remarked on the adversarial domestic business environment, particularly noting the turbulence of an election year that also ushered in a new government.
While addressing shareholders, Dangote reassured them of the conglomerate’s commitment to paying dividends this year. He acknowledged the widespread impact on Nigerian companies, especially in the food and beverages sector, which struggled to meet dividend obligations.
“We are doing whatever it takes to ensure that ultimately, dividends are disbursed. Comparing to last year, our dividends increased by almost 50 percent, so we are determined to navigate through this situation,” stated Dangote.
He emphasized that the naira’s drastic devaluation, from N460 to N1,400, posed significant challenges, with a vast majority of companies, particularly in food and beverages, unable to pay dividends. However, Dangote expressed optimism in overcoming these hurdles.
“Our priority is to ensure some dividends are paid, even if modest, particularly in the event of a naira recovery,” Dangote affirmed.
Notably, Dangote disclosed a staggering N164 billion FX loss attributed to the country’s deteriorating economic conditions, primarily stemming from the naira devaluation.
