Access Holdings Plc has reassured shareholders of its commitment to sustainable returns and long-term value creation, despite not declaring dividends for the 2025 financial year.
Speaking during the Group’s Full Year 2025 Investors and Earnings Call, management explained that the decision was not linked to weak earnings or liquidity challenges, but was driven by the need to comply with regulatory and prudential requirements before dividend payments could be approved.
The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Innocent C. Ike, stated that the company remains committed to rewarding shareholders, noting that Access Holdings has maintained a strong dividend-paying history over the years.
According to him, the temporary suspension of dividends was necessary to ensure alignment with regulatory guidelines and preserve the Group’s strong governance culture.
Access Holdings posted strong financial results for the 2025 financial year, with gross earnings rising by 13.3 per cent to ₦5.53 trillion. The growth was supported by higher net interest income and a 40.9 per cent increase in fees and commissions, which climbed to ₦585.07 billion.
Profit before tax also rose by 16.2 per cent to ₦1.01 trillion, marking the first time the Group crossed the ₦1 trillion threshold.
The company’s total assets expanded by 24.2 per cent to ₦51.56 trillion, reflecting growth across operations and the successful integration of newly acquired subsidiaries.
Operational efficiency also improved, as the Group’s cost-to-income ratio declined from 56.7 per cent to 51.7 per cent, while capital adequacy remained solid at 18.2 per cent at the holding company level and 20.2 per cent for the banking subsidiary.
Management disclosed that dividend payments had been proposed at both the half-year and full-year stages in 2025, but regulatory approvals were not secured.
The half-year restriction stemmed from Section 7.1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines for financial holding companies, an issue the Group said has now been resolved following a successful private placement exercise.
However, at the full-year stage, another issue emerged under Section 19(8)(c) of BOFIA, which limits investments in foreign banking subsidiaries relative to shareholders’ funds.
Access Holdings said regulators have granted the company a 12-month period to fully address the issue. As part of the remediation process, the Group plans to partially divest from some foreign banking subsidiaries while retaining majority ownership.
Ike reiterated that maintaining the confidence of regulators, depositors and investors remains central to the Group’s strategy, adding that balance sheet strength and capital resilience are critical to ensuring sustainable dividend payments in the future.
The company assured shareholders that it is actively engaging regulators and other stakeholders to resolve all outstanding issues within the approved timeline.
Access Holdings also said it is strengthening its capital and liquidity position to support the eventual restoration of dividend payments once all regulatory conditions and approvals are satisfied.
The Group expressed confidence in its long-term growth prospects, citing its scale, geographic diversification and strong market presence as key drivers for future earnings growth and shareholder value.
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