The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged businesses, investors and market stakeholders through Nigeria to seize the extensive opportunities introduced by the new law 2025 on investments and securities (ISA 2025) – a historic reform designed to modernize the financial markets of Nigeria and Catalyze in the long term.
Speaking at a stakeholder forum held Thursday in Lagos, the director general of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, represented by Mr. Habib Abubakar, head of the market development department, stressed that Isa 2025 marks a turning point for the Nigerian capital market. The forum, jointly organized by the SEC and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), was the theme of “unlocking the capital market opportunities for the growth and development of businesses”.
Agama has described the new law as the most complete overhaul of the Nigeria capital market since the 2007 version of the law, adding that its implementation could inaugurate a new inclusive growth era, product innovation, investor protection and technology transformation.
Register For TEKEDIA Mini-MBA Edition 18 (September 15 – December 6, 2025)) Today for early reductions. An annual for access to Blurara.com.
Tekedia Ai in Masterclass Business open registration.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-INivest in large world startups.
Register become a better CEO or director with CEO program and director of Tekedia.
“The 2025 law on investments and securities is more than legislation. This is a strategic tool to reposition the Nigeria capital market for global competitiveness and economic resilience,” said Agama.
Restarting the capital market: key pillars of ISA 2025
Agama has identified three central pillars that would help stakeholders unlock the full value of the new legislation:
1. Accessibility and inclusiveness
For the first time, the Nigeria capital market was structured to more deliberately accommodate small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs). The ISA 2025 introduces simplified recording and registration frames to reduce the entrance barrier for startups and businesses at the growth stage that need affordable long -term capital.
This is important in a country where more than 90% of companies operate in the informal sector, largely cut off from formal funding. Agama has said that the design of the law guarantees that these companies can now list, collect funds and change operations without being bogged down by complex regulatory processes.
2. Digital assets and technologies
ISA 2025 officially recognizes digital assets as valid investment vehicles, providing legal clarity to a long sector operating in a gray area. This recognition positions the Nigerian capital market at the forefront of financial inclusion based on financial technologies, opening the door to platforms offering token titles, digital crowdfunding and compatible exchanges with blockchain.
“With digital assets which are now part of the recognized investment landscape, Nigeria can attract younger investors, experienced entrepreneurs in technology and a wave of innovation -oriented financing structures,” noted Agama.
The law encourages regulators and capital market operators to adopt digital tools to rationalize compliance, improve transparency and improve access to investors.
3. Innovation and diversification of products
The law expands the range of instruments available on the market, creating legal and regulatory spaces for green obligations, debt linked to sustainability, investment capital and venture capital, derivatives of raw materials and real estate placement (FPI). With the concerns of climate change and the ESG investment growing worldwide, the SEC considers this as a means for Nigeria to connect to the global sustainable finance market of 30 billions of dollars.
The law also makes room for instruments in accordance with Sharia law and alternative financing models which can appeal to the large Muslim population of Nigeria, offering unexploited financing routes for infrastructure and industrial projects.
Strengthen confidence, attract capital
Agama stressed that investors’ confidence remains the basis for the development of the capital market. Consequently, ISA 2025 incorporates stronger provisions for the protection of investors, disclosure requirements and corporate governance.
The law strengthens the power application powers, improves dispute settlement mechanisms and requires transparency in the operations of capital market operators. According to Agama, these provisions are designed to deepen market participation, in particular retail investors who have always been cautious due to governance failures and low appeal systems.
The pressure to maximize the ISA 2025 comes at a time when Nigeria is struggling with slow economic growth, growing public debt, declining Naira and apathy of foreign investors. Operators of the capital market have long argued that Nigeria’s over-dependence on commercial loans and public expenditure focused on deficit has smothered the private sector.
ISA 2025 offers a credible route to increase non -dedette capital for critical sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, housing, health care and manufacturing, removing structural strangles. It also seeks to position the capital market as the main engine for financing inclusive development led by the private sector.
Agama has said that the SEC will intensify its public commitment campaign, including media campaigns, halls and investors’ Roadshows, to raise awareness and ensure the adoption of the new framework.
The head of the SEC noted that the achievement of the objectives of the law will require more than regulatory efforts – it requires collective property of all stakeholders: companies, market operators, institutional investors, FinTech and media innovative.
“We call the stakeholders in all sectors to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the law and to align their operations on its opportunities,” said Agama. “Let’s not wait to say what is possible. Let’s direct the charge.”
The SEC should publish a series of new implementation guidelines, compliance executives and rules of rules specific to the sector in the coming months to operationalize the key provisions of ISA 2025. The market observers claim that these will be crucial to determine whether the promises of the law are translated into accelerated results.
For many, ISA 2025 is not only a reform – this is a test case to know if Nigeria can finally trigger full power of its capital market to stimulate a lasting economic transformation.
