Business
Capital Market Operators Task SEC, NSE On Market Literacy
Some capital market operators have urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), to intensify their investor education campaign with a view to increasing the number of local investors in the market.
They told newsmen in Lagos on Saturday that strengthening investor education campaign would also enable the emergence of a vibrant Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) for emerging companies.
Former President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS),Mr. Ariyo Olushekun said SEC and NSE should map out strategies aimed at increasing local participation in the market and listed Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Olushekun said that regulators should give emphasis on market development to spur investors’ confidence and remove present apathy in the market.
“Regulators should reduce emphasis on foreign investors and work on ways that will increase local participation in the market.
“It is disappointing that we have only 4 million investors participating in the market in a country of over 170 million,” Olushekun said.
He said that government at all levels should look towards the market to augment their long-term infrastructure activities.
Malam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd, attributed the lull in the market and ASeM board, to dominance of foreign investors.
Kurfi said that the Federal Government should roll out economic policies that would encourage local investors.
He said the present realities at the global oil market clearly indicated the need for diversification of the nation’s economy.
Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, founding member, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, said that SMEs companies and investor, should be enlightened on the benefits of the market.
Olatokunbo said that the exchange should strengthen its regulations by introducing regulatory policies that would boost investors’ confidence and ensure safety of investment.
The exchange had on April, 23, 2013, re-launched the ASeM board, which offers companies several options to liquidity.
However, the sector had failed to attract listings as expected after its re-launch.
The exchange also in 2013 appointed 14 stock broking firms to act as designated advisers (DAs) for companies listed on ASeM board, to nurture the growth of small to mid-sized companies.
Credit to Nigeria’s private sector rose to N83.26 trillion in June 2026 from N81.04 trillion in May, signifying a positive balance of N2.22 trillion month-on-month.
Year-on-year, the figure represents a nine per cent increase compared with the N76.13 trillion recorded in June 2025. The latest figures come as the CBN continues to balance efforts to control inflation with the need to support economic growth and expand credit to businesses.
The CBN data shows that credit to Nigeria’s private sector increased by approximately 2.74 per cent month-on-month between May and June 2026. Also, the CBN data noted that credit to the government fell slightly to N40.03 trillion from N40.38 trillion. Other assets, net, dropped to N10.76 trillion from N12.63 trillion.
The credit surge signifies sustained growth in lending to businesses and other private-sector borrowers during the month. The rise in private sector credit was recorded alongside an increase in net domestic credit, despite declines in credit to government and other assets.
Further analysis of the report says that compared with June 2025, private sector credit rose by about N7.13 trillion yea-on-year but net domestic credit increased by approximately N1.87 trillion during the month.
The CBN’s relatively tight monetary policy stance notwithstanding, more banks still loaded funds to the private sector within the period. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) held its 306th meeting on July 20 and 21.
The Committee reviewed recent developments in the global and domestic economies, assessed emerging risks to the outlook and considered their implications for monetary policy and retained all rates.
The Committee decided to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent; the Standing Facilities Corridor around the MPR at +50/-450 basis points and retain the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for Deposit Money Banks at 45.00 per cent, Merchant Banks at 16.00 per cent, and non-TSA public sector deposits at 75.00 per cent.
The MPC decision means that credit extension in the private sector will likely continue to rise because of rising confidence in the sector and calls by stakeholders for banks to invest in the private scetor instead of government securities.
