2026: SEC targets long-term capital to bridge infrastructure, sectoral gaps

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has unveiled an ambitious agenda for 2026, placing the mobilisation of long-term funds at the centre of efforts to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and unlock growth across critical sectors of the economy.

The Director-General of the Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama, disclosed this in a New Year message issued in Abuja on Thursday, outlining a strategic shift aimed at positioning the Nigerian capital market as a key solution provider to the country’s development challenges.

According to Agama, the SEC will prioritise the mobilisation of long-term domestic and international capital, while streamlining regulatory frameworks and aggressively facilitating the issuance of innovative financial instruments that channel disciplined capital into productive sectors of the economy.

He said the Commission would, in 2026, facilitate the issuance of infrastructure bonds, green bonds, municipal bonds and infrastructure-focused funds to attract patient capital into critical national assets.

“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,” the SEC boss stated.

Agama revealed that agriculture would also receive renewed attention, with plans to promote the listing of agribusiness firms and create tailored listing windows for agricultural cooperatives and value-chain companies.

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Through commodity exchanges, agricultural investment trusts and commodities-linked financial instruments, he said the Commission aims to de-risk the agricultural sector, ensure fair pricing for farmers, strengthen food security and give Nigerians the opportunity to own a stake in the nation’s agricultural value chain.

In the real estate sector, the Director-General disclosed that the SEC would drive the revitalisation of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) while introducing innovative affordable housing bonds. He noted that these initiatives are expected to unlock fresh capital for mass housing delivery, create new asset classes for investors and move millions of Nigerians closer to homeownership.

The manufacturing sector is also set to benefit, as Agama said the Commission is reviewing its rules to incentivise listings by small and medium-scale enterprises, with particular focus on manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals and finished goods.

“By providing patient capital through the capital market, we will revitalise factories, reduce import dependency, create jobs and position ‘Made in Nigeria’ as a global brand,” he said.

On the power sector, Agama stated that the SEC would support investments through infrastructure bonds, green energy bonds, project-backed securities and public–private investment vehicles. According to him, these measures will help unlock long-term capital for grid expansion, renewable energy projects, embedded power solutions and energy transition initiatives.

He added that by improving bankability structures and attracting patient capital across the power value chain, the capital market would play a stronger role in supporting energy security in the country.

Reflecting on the broader vision for the new year, the SEC boss said the Commission was not merely turning a page on the calendar but embracing an opportunity to redefine the purpose and power of the Nigerian capital market.

“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,” Agama said.

The renewed focus, analysts say, signals a deliberate push by the apex capital market regulator to align investment flows with national development priorities and deepen the role of the capital market in driving sustainable economic growth in 2026 and beyond.