Shareholders of Daar Communications Plc, operators of African Television Authority (AIT); Raypower FM; and DAARSAT, will begin to enjoy dividend from next year, with the sum of NGN1bn that would be set aside for shareholders. These assuring words came from the Chairman of the Group, Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi, at the weekend, as the company held its third yearly general meeting in Abuja, to receive transactions result for year 2010. Dokpesi said that hope was in sight for better days for investors in the Group, adding that trade loss has declined by more than 40 per cent from NGN2.774bn in 2009 to NGN1.908bn in the year under review. He was also optimistic that by the time the 2011 trading result will be presented in the first quarter of this year, the company would have completely exited loss position. His optimism was hinged on the promise by the Federal Government to defray its indebtedness to the company over services rendered in the coverage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria hosted. He said: “I promise that by 2013, your company will be in a position to declare profit and declare a dividend. “Let me assure you that at least, NGN1bn will be set aside as dividend and you know that what I promise I fulfil.” Dokpesi, who spoke more on the company’s activities during the year under review, said: “The overall result of 2010 shows a loss of N1.6bn. There was however a significant improvement in performance when compared with the recorded loss of NGN2.626bn in 2009. “The difference of NGN1.058bn between the loss positions of 2009 and 2010 shows that the operational strategies adopted by the company in 2010 yielded positive results and therefore should be sustained. “In 2010, interest and similar charges amounted to NGN1.953bn, representing 81 per cent of the gross profit for the year. This figure is therefore, responsible for the loss recorded in the year under review.” “Although efforts were made to service the loan from the company’s operations, the non – payment of the outstanding debts owed by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the project for which the loan granted exacerbated the position. “The outstanding debt owed your company by the Nigerian government for the service rendered during the U-17 World Cup in 2009 has not been paid. “However, I wish to inform you that Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has graciously approved the payment to your company. Efforts have reached advanced stage for the collection.”