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Mr Shehu Yahaya Shantali- MD/CEO CSCS Plc
Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has declared the first interim dividend in its history after delivering a record-breaking financial performance for the first half of 2026, underscoring the strength of Nigeria’s capital market recovery and the company’s growing earnings capacity.
The Board of Directors approved an interim dividend of N1.00 per ordinary share for the six months ended June 30, 2026, citing the company’s robust profitability, strong cash generation, resilient balance sheet and confidence in sustaining its earnings momentum.
The interim payout represents about 56 per cent of the total dividend of N1.78 per share distributed for the entire 2025 financial year, signalling management’s optimism about the company’s outlook and commitment to rewarding shareholders while maintaining adequate resources for future investments.
CSCS posted one of the strongest half-year performances in its history, with total operating income surging by 92 per cent to N18.51 billion from the corresponding period of 2025.
The impressive revenue growth was driven by significantly higher transaction fee income amid increased activity in the Nigerian capital market, continued expansion in depository services, rising collateral management income, growing contributions from data and technology-enabled services, as well as improved investment income.
Despite the sharp increase in revenue, the company maintained tight control over costs. Operating expenses rose by only 38 per cent, enabling operating profit to jump by 186 per cent to N10.11 billion, while profit before tax climbed by 115 per cent to N13.21 billion.
Similarly, earnings per share increased to 190.1 kobo, compared with 109.1 kobo recorded in the first half of 2025.
Operational efficiency also improved significantly during the period. The company’s cost-to-income ratio declined to 45.4 per cent from 63.2 per cent, while operating profit margin strengthened to 54.6 per cent from 36.8 per cent, reflecting improved operating leverage, disciplined cost management and the scalability of its business model.
Commenting on the interim dividend, Chairman of CSCS Plc, Temi Popoola, said the Board’s decision reflects its confidence in the company’s financial strength and long-term growth strategy.
According to him, the strong performance was driven not only by increased capital market activity but also by sustained improvements in operational efficiency, prudent cost management and continued diversification of revenue sources.
He said the Board remains committed to balancing shareholder rewards with strategic investments in technology, innovation, resilience and new growth opportunities that will reinforce CSCS’ leadership position as Nigeria’s premier financial market infrastructure institution.
Also commenting on the results, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CSCS Plc, Shehu Yahaya Shantali, described the performance as evidence of the resilience of the company’s business model and the confidence of market participants.
He noted that the record earnings growth and improved operating efficiency enabled the company to reward shareholders through its maiden interim dividend.
Shantali said CSCS would continue to prioritise investments in technology, innovation and market infrastructure while diversifying its revenue streams to sustain long-term growth and support the continued development of Nigeria’s capital market.
The record performance further reinforces CSCS’ strategic importance to Nigeria’s financial ecosystem as increased trading activity and expanding technology-driven services continue to strengthen its earnings profile and enhance shareholder value.
