SEC Moves to Digital Registration as Operators Begin January 2026 Renewal
By Patience Ikpeme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed all capital market operators to commence the renewal of their registrations starting January 1 through January 31, 2026.
This announcement marks a significant shift toward a fully digital regulatory landscape, as the Commission prepares to transition its application and update procedures to an electronic format within the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking during an interview in Abuja over the weekend, the Director General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, explained that the move is part of a broader strategy to modernize market oversight. He noted that the Commission is making deliberate strides to ensure that its interactions with the market are faster and more transparent through the use of automation and database-driven supervision.
“These initiatives reflect our commitment to leveraging technology for faster, more transparent, and efficient regulatory processes,” Dr. Agama said. “The Commission is taking deliberate steps to make regulatory processes faster, more transparent, and technology-driven. We are investing in automation, databased supervision, and secure infrastructure to improve how we interact with the market.”
Central to this transition is the Digital Transformation Portal, which the SEC boss described as an end-to-end solution for registration and licensing. He pointed out that operators now have the capability to submit applications, upload necessary documentation, and track the status of their approvals online. This shift effectively eliminates much of the manual processing time and the previous necessity for physical visits to the Commission’s offices.
Beyond registration, the SEC has introduced a Commercial Paper issuance module. This tool enables operators to file documents and monitor progress electronically, with Dr. Agama noting that early feedback from users indicates a marked improvement in how quickly these processes are completed.
“Work is ongoing to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions, with structured templates and system checks to ensure accuracy,” Dr. Agama added. “A returns analytics dashboard is also in development to support risk based supervision and exception reporting.”
To support these digital advancements, the Commission is currently upgrading its core IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, and network security layers. While core internal systems are remaining on-premise for now to manage security and costs, the SEC is selectively migrating certain platforms to the cloud to allow for better scalability and external access.
Dr. Agama made it clear that while innovation is a priority, it must be balanced with rigorous security. The Commission is set to conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing once the current phases of automation and migration have stabilized.
“At the same time, we are strengthening data integrity and cybersecurity with vulnerability assessments and planned penetration testing once automation and migration phases are stable,” he said. “These efforts show our commitment to building a modern, resilient regulatory environment that supports efficiency, investor confidence, and market stability.”
Looking toward the future, the Director General mentioned that the Nigerian capital market is firmly on a path toward digital transformation. However, he acknowledged that this journey requires clear regulations regarding advanced technologies, support for smaller firms, and a focus on educating a younger demographic of investors to drive the adoption of financial technology.
“A phased and proportionate approach to regulating emerging technologies such as AI is essential, complemented by internal readiness through supervisory technology tools,” Dr. Agama stated. “Furthermore, investor education, particularly among younger demographics, will be critical to future-proof participation and drive fintech adoption.”
He reminded operators that with the power of automation and artificial intelligence comes a significant responsibility to act ethically and securely. He maintained that protecting investor data and preventing market abuse are essential requirements for any firm operating within the new digital framework.
“Innovation is vital, but it must be accompanied by responsibility. As operators embrace automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven tools, they bear a duty to ensure ethical, secure, and compliant deployment. Safeguarding investor data, preventing market abuse, and maintaining operational resilience are non-negotiable,” he said.
Ultimately, the SEC head characterized the adoption of technology as a means of building trust, which he described as the cornerstone of the financial markets. He called on all market participants to uphold principles of fairness and accountability, suggesting that doing so would protect the stability of the system and enhance the long-term competitiveness of the Nigerian Capital Market.
