The director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Emomotimi Agama, says that the All-Share Index rose to N39.049 trillion in six months following the enactment of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025.

Mr Agama disclosed this during a colloquium at Godfrey Okoye University on Wednesday. Mr Agama noted that the increase was a result of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s demonstration of a clear commitment to repositioning the Nigerian economy.

According to him, one of the most significant steps in this direction is the enactment of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, by the Tinubu administration.

The SEC director-general added that the landmark legislation had already begun to reshape the contours of the capital market within a short span of six months.

“Within this period, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in investor confidence and market performance, with the All-Share Index rising to an impressive N39.049 trillion. A notable provision of the new Act is the formal recognition and regulation of digital assets and virtual assets. This development is not merely regulatory; it is visionary.

“It acknowledges the creativity and dynamism of Nigeria’s youth, many of whom are represented in this hall today. By creating a framework for digital finance, we are opening new frontiers for inclusive growth and national development,” Mr Agama said.

He explained that the commission had intensified its oversight of key market segments, including the Commodity Market Ecosystem, online foreign exchange platforms, securities exchanges, and financial market infrastructures.

This, Mr Agama stressed, was an effort aimed at deepening market integrity and protecting investors. 

The act introduces stringent penalties for illegal market activities, including Ponzi schemes, with fines of up to N20 million and imprisonment terms of up to 10 years.

“These measures are designed to safeguard the credibility of our financial system, and the capital market has proven its capacity to mobilise long-term funds for strategic sectors. 

“The recent capitalisation of the banking industry, which raised over N24.342 trillion, is a testament to this potential,” Mr Agama said.

(NAN)