Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed capital market operators (CMOs) to renew their registration between January 1 and January 31, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory efficiency and market oversight.
The Director General of the SEC, Mr. Emomotimi Agama, disclosed this over the weekend, noting that the Commission will commence electronic receipt and processing of applications for registration and updates of registration information in the first quarter of 2026.
The move, he said, is aimed at simplifying regulatory procedures and reducing manual bottlenecks.
“These initiatives reflect our commitment to leveraging technology for faster, more transparent, and efficient regulatory processes,” Agama said.
“The Commission is taking deliberate steps to make regulatory processes faster, more transparent, and technology-driven.”
According to him, the SEC’s Digital Transformation Portal has already enabled end-to-end automation of registration and licensing processes, allowing operators to submit applications, upload documents, and track approvals online.
This, he said, has significantly reduced processing time and minimised the need for physical visits to the Commission.
Agama also revealed that the Commission has rolled out a Commercial Paper issuance module, enabling operators to file documents, monitor application progress, and receive approvals electronically, with early feedback indicating improved turnaround time.
He added that work is ongoing to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions through structured templates and system checks to enhance accuracy. A returns analytics dashboard is also being developed to support risk-based supervision and exception reporting.
To support the digital shift, the SEC has begun upgrading its IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, networks, and security layers, to improve system speed and reliability.
Selective cloud migration is also underway for platforms requiring scalability and external access, while core internal systems remain on-premises pending further security and cost assessments.
Agama said the Commission is equally strengthening data integrity and cybersecurity through vulnerability assessments and planned penetration testing, stressing that these measures underscore the SEC’s commitment to building a modern and resilient regulatory environment that enhances efficiency, investor confidence, and market stability.
He noted that the Nigerian capital market is firmly on the path to digital transformation, but emphasised the need for regulatory clarity on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, targeted support for smaller firms, and sustained capacity-building initiatives.
“Innovation is vital, but it must be accompanied by responsibility,” Agama said, urging operators to ensure ethical, secure, and compliant deployment of new technologies to safeguard investor data, prevent market abuse, and maintain operational resilience.
He concluded that responsible technology adoption is essential for building trust in the capital market, adding that adherence to fairness, transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance will strengthen investor protection and enhance the long-term credibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s capital market.