The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Yuguda, has described the agricultural sector as key to current efforts by the Nigerian government diversify the nation’s economy in view of the sector’s job creation and other socio-economic benefits.
Yuguda made this remark at the 26th Annual Stockbroker’s Conference with the theme ‘Capital market and Agricultural Development in Nigeria: Issues and the Way Forward’ held on Thursday in Benin, Edo State.
He said the theme of this year’s conference remained germane now as it highlighted the important role the capital market could play in harnessing resources for our nation’s agricultural development.
The capital market regulator pointed out that Nigeria was facing some of its most daunting challenges in recent times, as rising inflation, low government revenues arising from crude oil production challenges and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy deductions; unemployment, infrastructure deficit and low productivity continued to hamper the nation’s Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP’s) growth rate.
According to him, for Nigeria to successfully address these challenges, all stakeholders must make conscious efforts to fully diversify the revenue base of the country.
Yuguda clarified: “The fact that over 70% of the Nigerian populace depends on agriculture as a means of livelihood, mainly at subsistence level, calls for deliberate policies and action plans towards expanding the sector.
“In early recognition of the potentials of the Agricultural Sector, the Securities and Exchange Commission identified the development of the Agricultural Trading Ecosystem as one of its key focus in its 10-year Masterplan 2015-2025, as revised”, he added
He explained that the commission had been working closely with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) for the actualization of a vibrant commodities ecosystem with key focus on deepening the Agricultural Sector by developing a grading and standardization system that will align with International best practice, which is an important precursor in achieving vibrancy in agricultural and other commodities markets.
The Director General pointed out that the Commodities Trading Ecosystem Roadmap would ensure compliance with established grades and standards, reduce the proliferation of sub-standard agricultural commodities in the markets, and encourage global acceptance of commodities produced in Nigeria, among other benefits.
“Currently, the Commission has developed Rules on commodities trading in Nigeria as well as a Framework for regulating the Commodities space. The Commission has registered five (5) Commodities Exchanges offering several products and many Capital Market Operators authorized to transact on the Exchanges.
“The Capital market holds tremendous value proposition for the Agricultural sector. The capital market provides an alternative source of funding to bank financing. It offers funding for riskier agricultural activities that would traditionally not be financed by traditional banks.
“The capital market also ensures the transparent utilization of the funds raised for agriculture thereby accelerating the growth of the agricultural sector and the creation of wealth along the agricultural value chain” he added
In his keynote address at the forum, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, described the theme as very apt as it aligns with the efforts of the state government to open up the state’s agricultural sector for private investment.
The governor said: “Nigeria’s economic growth is hinged on a vibrant private sector, which is propped by a thriving capital market. With the recent shocks witnessed in the country as a result of uncertainties in the global market such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and fluctuations in oil prices, it would take an innovative mix of financing options to engender sustainable growth within the local economy.
“It is for this reason that discourse such as these are important to provide insight and direction in the diversification of the economy”, Obaseki added.
Represented at the forum by Edo State Head of Service, Mr. Anthony Okungbowa, the governor said stockbrokers were playing a critical role in directing the flow of investment into various sectors of the economy and urged them to consider the impact the increased investment in the oil palm sector can make in revitalizing the Nigerian economy, especially when cash crops such as oil palm, rubber and timber among others had in the past remained the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
He therefore called on Nigerians to look inwards in the quest to diversify the economy as nation with the Edo example standing as a litmus test.’’
President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Oluwole Adeosun, in his opening address, urged the Federal Government to revisit the issue of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and restore the exemption of Nigerian equities that lapsed last year.
He said that exemption granted in 2012 was a particularly important action by the Federal Government of Nigeria which helped to bring a reasonable level of stability to our fledgling market. We are not yet out of the woods, so the market is not yet ripe for Capital Gains Tax.
Adeosun said the Capital Market had been playing a pivotal role in the nation’s economy, especially as governments and organisations at various levels harness it to mobilize long-term capital for varying needs, thereby making people with ideas become entrepreneurs and helping small businesses grow into big companies.
He elaborated: “Likewise, it is an avenue for wealth creation and distribution, since individuals, corporates, and governments at various levels, can participate in the fortune making and distribution, as they provide us with opportunities to save and invest for our futures. Agriculture is a medium/long-term investment, and the capital market is a market to raise long-term capital.
“It is therefore extremely critical for all stakeholders who desire to maximise the full benefits of agriculture which include, but not limited to, providing food security, generating foreign exchange, and youth employment, to understand that the capital market should be the major source of agricultural funding”, Adeosun added.
