The Securities and Exchange Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting investors, pledging an intensified crackdown on Ponzi and pyramid schemes in 2025 while fostering the growth of legitimate investment opportunities.
In a New Year message to the capital market community, the SEC Director General, Emomotimi Agama, expressed optimism about the opportunities the year holds for Nigeria’s capital market.
He outlined key initiatives aimed at bolstering market integrity, enhancing investor confidence, and driving economic growth.
“The SEC is positioned with a dual mandate in regulating and developing the capital market in Nigeria. Naturally, our top priority in 2025 will cut across the dual mandate. For us, mainstreaming the Nigerian Capital Market into the economy is very vital,” Agama said.
Highlighting the importance of enforcement, he stated, “Enforcement is the backbone of effective regulation. We are revamping our investigative processes to enhance efficiency and hold bad actors accountable more decisively.”
“Insider trading undermines activities and dampens market fairness. By revising our regulatory framework, we aim to strengthen detection, prevention, and accountability mechanisms.
“Transparency, a critical factor for investor confidence, will also be a focus area. We will introduce measures to ensure greater visibility and trust in securities transactions,” he added.
To ensure fair and timely resolution of market disputes, the Commission is enhancing the operations of the Investments and Securities Tribunal to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
A significant focus for SEC in 2025 will be strengthening the legal framework of the commodities market to unlock its potential for economic development.
“The commodities market is indeed a major area of interest for us at the SEC. Nigeria is purely an agrarian nation and as such, taking that comparative advantage to the next level is something that the SEC is proud to be a part of.
“This year, we will focus on reinforcing the legal and regulatory structures that support growth so we can create a solid foundation for the vibrant commodities ecosystem,” Agama said.
He further emphasized SEC’s role in leveraging Nigeria’s vast array of commodities, stating, “The SEC as a partner in development will make sure that we will make the difference.”
Agama concluded by calling on stakeholders to collaborate in achieving these goals.
“Together, we can unlock the potentials of the Nigerian capital market and make this a defining year for our economy. What we intend to do is steer the Capital Market towards a direction that ensures development gets to the doorstep of every Nigerian,” he said.
