Shareholders of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, have commended the food seasoning company over its impressive performance in the year ended December 31, 2021, in spite of the harsh economic operating environment just as the company emerged the best haulage company of the year.
Speaking during the NASCON’s annual general meeting (AGM) held at the weekend in Lagos, a representative of the shareholders, Mrs. Bisi Bakare said the performance reflects the ability of the management of NASCON to steer the company through difficult times, especially, in the face of lack of power, fluctuating exchange regime and dwindling purchasing power of consumers.
She expressed the belief that the overall performance of the company was a reflection of its seven sustainability pillars adopted by NASCON and which are geared towards ensuring that the company connects with all stakeholders.
A shareholders’ rights’ activist, Sir Sunny Nwosu, lauded the board and management of NASCON for their ability to declare and pay dividends despite the harsh operating environment which resulted from the Apapa Wharf gridlock and the downturn in national economy.
He said, while other companies are lamenting and cutting down on production, the company is paying dividend which is commendable. Chairman of the company, Mrs Yemisi Ayeni, explained that, the firm was able to surmount the crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant unfavourable economic climate because of the certain business strategies put in place which insulated the company from the negative effects of the pandemic
Responding, the acting managing director, NASCON, Mr. Thabo Mabe, said the company is not resting on its achievements but is moving from street to street, market to market and shop to shop, introducing its array of products to consumers. As a company in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, he said, the management team has developed plans and strategies to capture more share in chosen markets and will gradually deploy them in the coming months.
Also, the group executive director, Commercial, Hajiya Fatima Aliko Dangote said, the company used the period of the downturn occasioned by the pandemic to lay a solid ground for the company with the construction of the state of the art salt processing factory at Apapa and that, going forward, the company would begin to reap the reward which ultimately would translate to higher dividends for the shareholders.
A peep into NASCON’s annual report for 2021 indicated that profit before tax, rose from N3.9 billion to N4.3 billion while net profit was N2.97 billion.
National Salt Company of Nigeria’s shares listed on the Nigerian Exchange in October 1992, through which Dangote Industries Limited purchased majority shares.
