FTSE Russell welcomes ten Nigerian firms to frontier index
Ten leading Nigerian companies have been added to the FTSE Russell’s FTSE Frontier Index Series, signaling Nigeria’s return to global Frontier Market status. The move follows a three-year exclusion and comes after improvements in Nigeria’s foreign exchange and capital repatriation processes. Companies such as Dangote Cement, MTN Nigeria Communications, and Zenith Bank are among those newly included. The reclassification is expected to boost the visibility and attractiveness of Nigerian equities to global investors.
TLDR
- Nigeria’s re-entry into the FTSE Frontier Index Series is set for September 21, 2026.
- The FTSE Russell September Index Review confirmed the inclusion of ten major Nigerian firms, including Aradel Holdings, First HoldCo, and Presco.
- Nigeria was previously downgraded to ‘Unclassified’ in September 2023 due to foreign exchange issues.
- The turnaround began in October 2025 when Nigeria was placed on a Watch List after improvements in FX liquidity.
- Dangote Cement will host a Capital Markets Day in London on September 21, 2026, following shareholder approval on 12 May 2026 for a proposed secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.
