The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed capital market operators to renew their registrations between January 1 and January 31, 2026.
Emomotimi Agama, SEC director-general, disclosed this during a weekend interview in Abuja.
The commission said the renewal window forms part of broader efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance across the capital market.
Agama said the regulator will begin electronic receipt and processing of registration applications and updates in the first quarter of 2026.
He said the move is aimed at simplifying procedures and improving regulatory efficiency through technology.
“The commission is taking deliberate steps to make regulatory processes faster, more transparent, and technology-driven,” the DG said.
“We are investing in automation, databased supervision, and secure infrastructure to improve how we interact with the market.”
Agama said the SEC’s digital transformation portal now supports end-to-end automation for registration and licensing activities.
He said operators can submit applications, upload required documents and monitor approval stages online.
The SEC director-general said the automation initiative has significantly reduced processing timelines and limited the need for physical engagement.
He added that a commercial paper issuance module has been deployed to enable electronic filing, monitoring and approval of applications.
“Feedback from early users indicates a clear improvement in turnaround time,” the SEC DG said.
WORK ONGOING TO AUTOMATE SUBMISSION
Agama said work is ongoing to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions.
“Work is ongoing to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions, with structured templates and system checks to ensure accuracy,” Agama said.
“A returns analytics dashboard is also in development to support risk-based supervision and exception reporting.”
Agama said the commission has commenced upgrades of its information technology systems.
“To back these changes, we have started upgrading our IT infrastructure, servers, storage, networks, and security layers, to boost speed and reliability,” he said.
“Selective cloud migration is underway for platforms that need scalability and external access, while core internal systems remain on premisev5p for now as we assess security and cost implications.
“At the same time, we are strengthening data integrity and cybersecurity with vulnerability assessments and planned penetration testing once automation and migration phases are stable.
“These efforts show our commitment to building a modern, resilient regulatory environment that supports efficiency, investor confidence, and market stability.”
Agama said Nigeria’s capital market is firmly positioned on a digital transformation path.
He said achieving this goal requires regulatory clarity on advanced technologies, targeted support for smaller firms and sustained capacity-building.
The SEC director-general said a phased and proportionate regulatory approach to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence is necessary.
He added that internal readiness through supervisory technology tools remains essential.
Agama said protecting investor data, preventing market abuse and ensuring operational resilience are non-negotiable priorities.
He urged capital market operators to uphold fairness, transparency, accountability and full regulatory compliance.
He said responsible adoption of technology is critical to sustaining trust and enhancing the long-term credibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s capital market.