SEC Targets $500bn from Dormant Assets

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expressed optimism that Nigeria can unlock over $500 billion in dormant agricultural and mineral assets through the formalisation of commodities and warehouse receipts.

Director General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, made the disclosure in Abuja at a national workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, noting that these assets, once converted into tradable securities would drive economic diversification and wealth creation.

Agama said the recently enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 is a game-changer for the Nigerian capital market, describing it as a “strategic blueprint” to propel the country into the league of top global economies.

“This Act is not merely an update it is a revolution. It dismantles legacy constraints, embeds global best practices, and positions our market as the engine room for national prosperity,” he declared.

“The question is no longer *if* Nigeria can achieve a \$1 trillion economy, but *how soon*.”

He highlighted new provisions in the Act, including powers for the SEC to crack down on Ponzi schemes and prosecute offenders, marking a decisive step towards restoring investor confidence.

“Trust is the currency of our capital markets. Without it, liquidity dries up,” Agama said, adding that the law now provides investor protection for losses arising from revoked dealer licenses—a long-overdue safeguard that will boost participation.

He affirmed that under the strengthened regulatory framework, the capital market is set to play a central role in driving inclusive growth, with commodities at the heart of a new era of financial innovation.