Photo caption: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission has pledged to intensify its oversight of capital market operators to ensure strict adherence to regulations and enhance investor confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
Speaking at the office launch of Norrenberger Asset Management Limited and the 2025 capital market outlook event in Abuja on Monday, the SEC Director-General, Dr Emomotimi Agama, reaffirmed the Commission’s zero-tolerance policy for infractions and outlined key initiatives for the coming year.
He announced that the SEC would prioritise risk-based supervision and closely monitor operators to ensure compliance.
Agama said, “We are going to get to every capital market operator, watching them like an eagle, making sure they are doing just the right thing. We want to be sure that Nigerians that are here and abroad and even foreigners believe and trust in our market.”
He added that the Commission’s goal is to create a market that inspires confidence among Nigerians, foreign investors, and the diaspora, without requiring external validation.
Agama disclosed that the recently passed bill awaiting presidential assent would empower the SEC to enforce regulations more effectively.
He stated that the new legislation is designed to ensure accountability and justice for any violations, as part of efforts to build an investment climate based on trust, confidence, and transparency.
He noted that these goals require hard work and a sustained commitment, which the SEC is fully prepared to deliver.
The Director-General emphasised that financial education would remain a priority in 2025, with plans to educate citizens about the capital market and its opportunities.
He stressed that while the SEC is focused on enlightening the public, it will not tolerate any breaches of market rules and regulations.
“As much as we educate people to know, we will also not tolerate any form of infractions or violations of the rules and regulations,” he said.
Agama also noted that the capital market plays a crucial role in funding long-term projects and addressing deficits across various sectors.
Reflecting on the achievements of 2024, he highlighted the successful raising of N2.2tn for bank recapitalisation and N3tn through collective investment schemes, describing these milestones as evidence of the market’s depth and capacity.
He dismissed concerns that government borrowing might crowd out the private sector, asserting that the market is robust enough to accommodate both.
He urged private sector players to utilise the market, emphasising that quality products will naturally attract investors.
Agama expressed optimism about 2025, describing it as a transformative year for the Nigerian capital market.
The Group Managing Director of Norrenberger, Tony Edeh, said the firm entered the asset management space to address a lack of innovation in the sector.
