LAGOS, Feb 23 – Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission plans to attract 20 million additional investors into the capital market as part of efforts to strengthen participation and liquidity.
The commission inaugurated a Capital Market Working Group on Market Liquidity in Abuja, where Director General, Emomotimi Agama said technology platforms will play a central role in expanding retail access.
Agama noted that trading activity is still concentrated among a relatively small segment of investors despite growth in market capitalisation.
President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Uche Uwaleke, said that collaboration with fintech firms, exchanges, banks and universities will be necessary to meet the target, adding that digital onboarding and real time access to market information could lower entry barriers for first time investors.
Nigeria has more than 200 million people but fewer than one million active capital market investors, according to Uwaleke.
The SEC said the Investments and Securities Act 2025 brings digital assets under regulatory oversight and could help channel retail interest into regulated investment products.
Market performance has improved in recent months.
The Nigerian Exchange All Share Index rose 6.27% in January 2026 as over 15 billion shares changed hands, increasing from 155,612.9 points to 165,370.4 points.
The rally continued in February, with the index crossing the 190,000 level on February 17, 2026, according to exchange data.
Regulators said broader participation would improve liquidity and support capital raising for companies in the domestic economy.
