The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that mobilizing long-term capital will be its top priority in 2026, as part of a strategic push to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficits and sectoral development gaps.
In a New Year message delivered on Thursday, SEC Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, highlighted the Commission’s commitment to streamlining regulatory frameworks and facilitating innovative financial instruments that direct disciplined investment into productive sectors.
“Next year, the SEC will actively facilitate the issuance of infrastructure bonds, green bonds, municipal bonds, and infrastructure-focused funds,” Agama stated. “Our aim is to attract long-term domestic and international capital into roads, power, rail, housing, and digital infrastructure, while ensuring state governments and infrastructure companies can access the market efficiently.”
Boosting Agriculture and Food Security
Agama revealed that 2026 will also focus on agriculture by promoting listings for agribusiness firms and creating specialized windows for agricultural cooperatives and value-chain companies. Through commodity exchanges, agricultural investment trusts, and commodities-linked financial instruments, the SEC aims to de-risk agriculture, provide fair pricing for farmers, strengthen food security, and allow Nigerians to invest directly in the country’s agricultural sector.
Revitalizing Housing and Real Estate
The SEC plans to revitalize Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and introduce innovative affordable housing bonds. “These initiatives will unlock capital for mass housing delivery, create new investment opportunities, and move millions of Nigerians closer to homeownership,” Agama said.
Supporting SMEs and Manufacturing
The Commission will also incentivize capital market listings from small and medium-scale industries, with particular focus on manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and finished goods. Agama emphasized, “By providing patient capital, we will revitalize factories, reduce import dependency, create jobs, and position ‘Made in Nigeria’ products as globally competitive.”
Driving Energy and Power Sector Growth
In the energy sector, the SEC will promote infrastructure bonds, green energy bonds, project-backed securities, and public-private investment vehicles. These measures are expected to unlock long-term capital for grid expansion, renewable energy projects, embedded power solutions, and broader energy transition initiatives. “Improving bankability structures and attracting patient capital into the power value chain will support energy security and sustainable growth,” Agama added.
A Vision for the Nigerian Capital Market
Agama concluded by framing 2026 as a transformative opportunity. “The start of the new year is not just a calendar change—it is a chance to redefine the purpose and power of the Nigerian Capital Market. We look back at a year of transformation and forward to a future where the capital market provides solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing economic and developmental challenges.”
SEC DG Dr. Emomotimi Agama outlines 2026 priorities, focusing on mobilizing long-term capital for infrastructure, housing, agriculture, SMEs, and energy, positioning Nigeria’s capital market as a driver of economic growth.
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