Key stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market have lauded the newly signed Investments and Securities Act 2025, expressing strong confidence that the legislation will significantly deepen market integrity and expand investment opportunities within the nation’s financial ecosystem.
The experts made this known in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Monday following the announcement of the signing of the Bill on Saturday.
The Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has given assent to the landmark Bill, repealing the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007 and ushering in what they described as a transformative era for the Nigerian capital market.
Commenting on the development, the 13th President and Chairman of the Council Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Oluropo Dada, said that the Act is a “testament to our collective dedication to advancing the capital market and securing its future as a catalyst for economic development.”
He highlighted that the government had shown commitment to fostering transparency, efficiency, and stability in the financial markets through this enactment.
Dada expressed confidence that the ISA 2025 will “introduce comprehensive reforms aimed at modernising the regulatory framework, enhancing investor protection, and creating a more robust platform for economic growth and development. As capital market professionals, we are confident that this act will deepen market integrity, boost investor confidence, and expand the range of investment opportunities available to Nigerians and global investors alike.”
Echoing this sentiment, the Chairman of the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria, Sam Onukwue, said, “At the basic level, the ISA 2025 is transformative. It will strengthen regulatory oversight of the capital markets with the overall objective of enhancing investor protection. We believe it will rekindle the confidence of market stakeholders, which will, in turn, engender significant growth of the market going forward.”
Furthermore, he noted that for operators, it “provides diversification opportunities with the expanded scope beyond traditional equities and fixed income.”
The Managing Director of NASD, Eguarekhide Longe, in his comments also welcomed the ISA 2025.
Highlighting the market’s existing emphasis on investor protection, he noted that with the emergence of “unfolding digital products and the need to attract youths, our regulatory framework should be strengthened.”
Longe expressed his belief that the new act will effectively address key issues such as investor protection and fraud detection, as well as the recognition of virtual assets as securities and systemic risk management.
The MD, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange, Akin Akeredolu-Ale, added, “We have people that now understand that the capital market is the barometer of the economy. And that the enabling environment, particularly the legal framework, is the bedrock for the growth of the capital market and, overall, the economy. I congratulate Agama (SEC DG).”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama, has reaffirmed the authority of the SEC as the apex regulatory authority of the Nigerian capital market and also introduced transformative provisions to further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practices.
