Only six of Nigeria’s major listed banks paid a combined N1.27 trillion in dividends to shareholders for the 2025 financial year, while five other profitable banks were unable to make payouts after failing to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s prudential requirements.

The banks that paid dividends were GTCO, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Wema Bank and FCMB. GTCO and Zenith accounted for 81.9 per cent of the total dividend payments.

The report attributed the difference in dividend payments to factors including capital strength, regulatory compliance, rising non-performing loans and the need for some banks to retain capital to strengthen their balance sheets.

According to analysts, the CBN’s restrictions were aimed at ensuring banks maintained adequate capital and protected depositors. Some affected banks also faced increased provisions for doubtful loans and foreign debt obligations, limiting their ability to distribute profits to shareholders.

Despite the restrictions, experts said the outlook for the banking sector remained positive, with dividend payments expected to become more stable as banks strengthen their capital positions and meet regulatory requirements.