Airtel Africa has extended its $100 million share buyback programme, first launched in December 2024, in partnership with Barclays Capital Securities Limited. The scheme, aimed at improving shareholder returns, has so far returned $34.7 million through the repurchase of 14.2 million shares, with $20.3 million still to be acquired.

The initiative, now running until March 2026, follows the completion of an initial $50 million phase in April 2025 and currently includes a $55 million tranche.

The telecommunications group, listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), is operating within regulations that restrict share buybacks to 15 percent of issued shares over two years. All repurchased shares will be cancelled, reducing the company’s share capital and potentially increasing earnings per share (EPS).

The buyback follows a strong performance in the first quarter of 2025, when Airtel Africa reported a 16-fold increase in EPS to 3.4 cents, supported by higher operating profits and lower foreign exchange losses. The company also raised capital expenditure by 27 percent, investing $737 million in 2024 to expand infrastructure and secure spectrum across its markets.

The extension of the scheme, according to Airtel Africa, also reflects its intention to provide consistent shareholder value while maintaining investment in its network. The partnership with Barclays ensures compliance with regulations during closed trading periods and seeks to limit market disruption.

Airtel Africa has in recent years considered a separate listing of its mobile money business but postponed the initial public offering in 2025, choosing instead to direct capital into shareholder-focused measures such as the buyback.

Industry observers point out that buybacks may improve financial ratios by reducing outstanding shares, but they can also indicate fewer reinvestment options. Airtel Africa has argued that its programme complements long-term growth priorities, pointing to a 29.5 percent increase in mobile money revenue and a 24 percent rise in its customer base.

The company continues to weigh shareholder rewards alongside reinvestment, citing foreign exchange volatility and other economic pressures in its largest market, Nigeria.

Mr. Hussaini Ishaq-Magaji, SAN, registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), said the commission is determined to end delays in business registration and service delivery through new digital reforms.

Ishaq-Magaji stated this on Monday at the CAC Stakeholders’ Forum held in Kano, which brought together lawyers, business owners, EFCC, ICPC, and other partners to review challenges and reforms in the commission’s service.

He said the commission had inherited an overstretched registration portal that was unable to cope with the growing demands triggered by compliance initiatives such as mandatory registration of Point-of-Sale (PoS) businesses and annual returns filing.

According to him, the situation created a backlog of applications and placed an unfair burden on customers and staff. “Our call centre and operational departments receive no fewer than 3,000 emails daily, with less than 100 staff attending to them.

“This model is not sustainable and not fair to our customers or our staff. That is why we resolved to change it for good,” he said.

The registrar general explained that the commission had introduced an Artificial Intelligence-powered portal capable of reading and routing thousands of customer requests within seconds.

He added that the AI system, launched in June, had successfully reduced the time for business name registration to less than 10 minutes, a feat he described as unprecedented globally.

“Anywhere you are, without knowing anyone in CAC or paying a middleman, you can register a business name and get your certificate instantly in less than 10 minutes. That is the new Nigeria we are building,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that other services, such as limited liability company and incorporated trustee registrations, were still experiencing delays due to backlogs, with about 7,000 pending applications being handled by only 63 registry staff.

The registrar-general assured stakeholders that further phases of the digital reform would address these gaps, stressing that technology was now a necessity for the commission to deliver its mandate.

Also speaking, Ahmed Abubakar, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ungogo branch, commended the commission for its digital reforms, describing them as a “remarkable achievement.”

Similarly, Usman Umar-Fari, Chairman, NBA Kano branch, urged the CAC to encourage companies to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities and create more opportunities for lawyers.

Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, the Commissioner for Insurance (CFI), has reaffirmed the National Insurance Commission’s (NAICOM) commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) to enhance compliance, consumer protection, and broader insurance awareness across the country.

Mr. Omosehin, gave the assurance when he received a delegation from NCRIB, led by its President, Prince Babatunde Oguntade, alongside the incoming President and incumbent Vice President, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement.

Welcoming the delegation, the Commissioner commended the Council for its sustained partnership with NAICOM and applauded its role in advancing industry compliance and professionalism.

He congratulated Prince Aguntade, Mrs. Ezeibe, and Mr. Tope Adaramole, appreciating their contributions towards strengthening consumer protection and broker engagement.

The CFI further congratulated NCRIB on the successful passage of the Nigerian Insurance Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, stressing that enforcement remains the real task ahead. He assured the Council that NAICOM would continue to rely on its collaboration to achieve effective implementation.

Highlighting industry priorities, Mr. Omosehin emphasized the need to expand insurance awareness, improve competence across the market, and ensure operators align with the Digitalization Regulation 2025.