SEC to crack down on market abuse in 2026

Nigeria’s capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will significantly intensify enforcement actions in 2026, leveraging the expanded supervisory powers granted under the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 to strengthen investor confidence and market integrity.

Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, in a statement, said the new law has reinforced the Commission’s enforcement framework, enabling it to deal more decisively with market abuse, insider dealing, fraudulent investment schemes, and other forms of misconduct.

According to Agama, the Commission will apply its enhanced powers “firmly and impartially,” while ensuring that all actions are guided by due process and the rule of law.

ALSO READ: 2026: Aiyedatiwa urges workers to put Ondo’s interest first

He noted that consistent and predictable regulation remains critical to sustaining trust in Nigeria’s capital market.

The planned enforcement push, he explained, forms part of broader efforts to improve market integrity, efficiency, and resilience, stressing that confidence in the market ultimately depends on effective supervision and the consistent application of rules.

Beyond tougher enforcement, the SEC will also focus on regulatory efficiency through increased digitalisation. Planned initiatives include streamlined approvals, automated filings, and improved disclosure processes aimed at reducing bottlenecks, enhancing transparency, and improving regulatory responsiveness.

Agama said the Commission will introduce enhanced disclosure requirements, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, alongside a structured recapitalisation and governance review of market intermediaries to strengthen financial resilience and risk management across the system.

On investor protection, he reaffirmed the SEC’s commitment to expanding market access while maintaining strong safeguards, particularly for retail investors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Looking ahead, Agama said the Commission’s approach would balance discipline with growth, noting that regulation and enforcement would be deployed to build trust rather than stifle innovation.

He also disclosed plans to roll out a nationwide financial literacy programme in 2026 to boost investor awareness and reduce exposure to fraudulent schemes.