SEC Targets Infrastructure and Industrial Growth in 2026 Strategy
By Patience Ikpeme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set its sights on a sweeping transformation of the Nigerian economy for the 2026 fiscal year.
This includes detailing a strategy to funnel long-term capital into critical infrastructure and essential sectors.
In a New Year message delivered in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, explained that the Commission is focusing on closing Nigeria’s infrastructure and sectoral gaps.
This strategy involves simplifying regulatory processes and pushing for the creation of new financial tools designed to direct disciplined investment into the nation’s most productive areas.
Dr. Agama noted that throughout the coming year, the Commission will support the rollout of infrastructure bonds, green bonds, municipal bonds, and specialized funds.
“Our goal is to attract long-term domestic and international capital into roads, power, rail, housing, and digital infrastructure, while making it easier for state governments and infrastructure companies to access the market efficiently,” Dr. Agama said.
The Commission’s vision extends significantly into the agricultural sector. The SEC head pointed out that the agency intends to encourage agribusiness firms to join the stock exchange and will develop specific listing opportunities for agricultural cooperatives and companies within the value chain.
“Through commodity exchanges, agricultural investment trusts, and commodities-linked financial instruments, we will de-risk agriculture, ensure fair pricing for farmers, strengthen food security, and allow Nigerians to own a stake in the nation’s breadbasket,” he stated.
Addressing the national housing deficit, the Director General mentioned that the SEC will work to breathe new life into Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and debut new bonds aimed at affordable housing.
These moves are intended to provide the necessary funds for large-scale housing projects, offering investors new ways to grow their wealth while helping more citizens achieve homeownership.
The manufacturing sector is also a primary target for the Commission’s 2026 agenda. Dr. Agama explained that the SEC is currently looking over its regulations to provide better incentives for small and medium-scale industries to list on the exchange. This effort will specifically target the automotive, pharmaceutical, and finished goods industries.
“By providing patient capital through the capital market, we will revitalize factories, reduce import dependency, create jobs, and position ‘Made in Nigeria’ as a global brand,” he said.
Furthermore, the SEC plans to back the power sector by utilizing green energy bonds, project-backed securities, and public-private investment models. These tools are expected to provide the funding needed for grid expansion, renewable energy, and more stable power solutions across the country.
“By improving bankability structures and attracting patient capital into the power value chain, the capital market will support energy security,” Dr. Agama added.
Reflecting on the start of the year, the Director General suggested that the current period represents a significant chance to change the role the Nigerian capital market plays in the daily lives of citizens.
“We look back at a year of transformation and look forward to a future where our capital market becomes the definitive solution provider for Nigeria’s most pressing economic and developmental needs,” he concluded.
