SEC Targets $500bn from Unlocking Dormant Agro and Mineral Assets

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says Nigeria can unlock $500 billion in value by transforming untapped agricultural and mineral resources into tradable financial instruments.

This was disclosed by SEC Director-General Emomotimi Agama during a national workshop hosted by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in Abuja.

Agama explained that formalising assets such as commodities and warehouse receipts into securities would help generate wealth, deepen capital markets, and diversify the nation’s economic base away from oil dependence.

“With structured instruments, we can breathe life into dormant assets and turn them into viable market products that drive inclusive economic growth,” he said.

He credited the newly signed Investments and Securities Act, 2025 as the legislative force behind this bold market shift. The Act, he said, gives the Commission broader regulatory authority and sharpens its ability to manage a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

“This is more than just legal reform. It’s a strategic shift to place Nigeria on the global economic map,” Agama remarked. “The new law breaks old barriers, embeds global standards, and positions the capital market as a central engine for national prosperity.”

Agama emphasized that under this new legal framework, the capital market will be key to realizing the country’s $1 trillion economy goal. He noted, “The question is no longer ‘if’ but ‘how soon.’ The capital market is the catalyst.”

He also pointed out that the Act empowers the SEC to crack down on fraudulent investment schemes, and enhances investor protection with new provisions—such as compensation for losses due to revoked dealer licenses.

“Trust is the backbone of capital markets. Without it, confidence and liquidity vanish,” Agama stressed, reaffirming the SEC’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and long-term investor protection.