SEC eyes $500bn boost from Agro-Mineral assets

Barbara Bako, Abuja.

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has stated that Nigeria’s capital market can unlock up to $500 billion in dormant agricultural and mineral assets through the formalisation of commodities exchanges and warehouse receipts.

Speaking at the national workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Agama said the move would transform these dormant resources into tradable securities, driving diversification and national wealth creation.

He noted that this initiative would help shift the economy from over dependence on oil and gas.

Dr. Agama also highlighted the significance of the recently enacted Investments and Securities Act 2025, saying it has empowered the Commission to take decisive steps to grow and regulate the sector.

“The Act sharpens the SEC’s regulatory focus, ensuring it operates with the precision and authority required to steward a rapidly expanding market,” he stated.

He further emphasized the transformative nature of the legislation, describing it as more than just an amendment.

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“Today, I speak not just about the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 as a legislative milestone, but as a strategic blueprint to propel Nigeria into the league of top global economies.”

Dr. Agama said, “This Act is not merely an update—it is a revolution. It dismantles legacy constraints, embeds global best practices, and positions our market as the engine room for national prosperity. The question before us is no longer if Nigeria can achieve a $1 trillion economy, but how soon—and the capital market, under this new Act, will be the accelerant,” he added.

Dr. Agama also pointed to the Act’s enhanced enforcement powers, especially in the fight against fraudulent schemes and investor protection.

He explained, “The Commission now has explicit powers to shut down Ponzi schemes and prosecute offenders—ending the era of ‘get-rich-quick’ scams that erode market confidence.

He said, “Investors are now covered for losses from revoked dealer licenses—a long-awaited safeguard that will boost participation. Trust is the currency of our capital markets. Without it, liquidity dries up.”