The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria has hinted that this year it will prioritize the mobilization of long-term capital to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure and sectoral gaps while also streamlining regulatory frameworks and aggressively facilitating the issuance of innovative financial instruments that channel disciplined capital into productive sectors.
The Director-General of the commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, who gave this hint in a New Year Message on Thursday, maintained that this year the commission will facilitate the issuance of infrastructure bonds, green bonds, municipal bonds, and infrastructure-focused funds.
He stated: “Our goal is to attract long-term domestic and international capital into roads, power, rail, housing, and digital infrastructure, while making it easier for state governments and infrastructure companies to access the market efficiently.
“We will promote the listing of agribusiness firms and create tailored listing windows for agricultural cooperatives and value-chain companies. Through commodity exchanges, agricultural investment trusts, and commodities-linked financial instruments, we will de-risk agriculture, ensure fair pricing for farmers, strengthen food security, and allow Nigerians to own a stake in the nation’s breadbasket”, the capital market regulator added.
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Similalry, Agama disclosed that the SEC would also drive the revitalization of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and introduce innovative affordable housing bonds to unlock capital for mass housing delivery, create new asset classes for investors, and move millions of Nigerians closer to home ownership.
He clarified: “We are reviewing our rules to incentivize listings from small and medium-scale industries, with special focus on manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and finished goods. By providing patient capital through the capital market, we will revitalize factories, reduce import dependency, create jobs, and position “Made in Nigeria” as a global brand.
“The SEC will support Nigeria’s power sector through infrastructure bonds, green energy bonds, project-backed securities, and public–private investment vehicles. We will help unlock long-term capital for grid expansion, renewable energy projects, embedded power solutions, and energy transition initiatives. By improving bankability structures and attracting patient capital into the power value chain, the capital market will support energy security”, Agama added.
He pointed out that as the new year commences, the SEC was not merely turning a page on the calendar, but exploring a profound opportunity to redefine the purpose of the Nigerian capital market.
The Director-General said: “We look back at a year of transformation and look forward to a future where our capital market becomes the definitive solution provider for Nigeria’s most pressing economic and developmental needs.”
