Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says the Investments and Securities Act 2025 recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu is a game changer with the strong potential to stimulate growth for the nation’s capital market and economy.

Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, noted this during an interview in Abuja on some of the highlights of the ISA 2025, described the new law as revolutionary in all respect, providing the commission the opportunity of retaining its signatory A status with  the International Organization of Securities Commission.

This, he continued, is significant as it enables the benchmarking of the Nigerian SEC and capital market with other jurisdictions, thereby driving friendly investments and investors towards the Nigerian capital market, besides expanding its reach.

The new law, he continued, offers increasing opportunities for raising capital in the Nigerian capital market as well as the inclusion of the regulation of online forex for which a lot of Nigerians are involved in and the introduction of legislation that speaks to digital assets regulation in Nigeria.

According to him, “this is huge because in the Nigerian population, the youths that are involved in this space are many, so providing clarity and providing legal framework and background to this is very essential for our growth. Beyond all of that we also have the Legal Entity Identifier being introduced into the Nigerian law which speaks to derivatives transactions.

“The commodities ecosystem is well featured in this law being able to provide regulation regarding the commodities ecosystem from the spot market onto the derivative market and the secondary market. We have also been able to remove by this law restrictions by states and local governments in their ability to raise capital and bring development to their states and of course municipal areas. So this for us is very important,” he stressed.

The SEC boss emphasized that the provisions of this law are so diverse and fundamental in creating a dynamic, resilient and strong capital market that will help in the development of the nation’s economy and help in facilitating Tinubu’s target of a $1tr economy by 2030.

Dr. Agama said beyond all of that, the essence of this law is actually to create a dynamic inclusive and resilient capital market for the economy adding that the Commission is committed to moving the capital market and the Nigerian economy forward.

The capital market, he stressed, “is strong enough to provide the much needed funding needs for various sectors of the economy. It is one of the strongest you can think about, our ROI was one of the best in the world for last year. When you look at what the capital market has already done with the bank recapitalization which is still ongoing, you can agree with me that our market is strong.

“Today, the Nigerian capital market has been able to facilitate the raising of capital by banks to the tune of N2.4tr and still counting. This has never happened in the history of this country. Our responsibility is to facilitate growth, facilitate exchanges and to facilitate the movement of capital and that we have done successfully with this exercise. Other institutions are also coming to raise capital. The Ministry of Finance Incorporated recently raised N250bn for housing facilitation in Nigeria.

“This tells you the capital market is resilient and it is showing in the activities that are happening in the capital market. In terms of market recapitalization, it has moved to over N65 trillion and that tells you that the capital market in Nigeria is moving forward” he stated.

The SEC DG also commended the President’s unwavering support, expressing appreciation to the National Assembly as well as the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State Finance.