The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Emomotimi Agama, has said Nigeria’s capital market can unlock an estimated $500bn from dormant agricultural and mineral assets by formalising commodities and warehouse receipts into tradable securities.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, Agama made the disclosure at the national workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers held in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, transforming these dormant assets into investable instruments would not only deepen the market but also help diversify the economy away from oil and gas.

He said, “By formalising commodities and warehouse receipts, we can unlock $500bn in dormant agricultural and mineral assets. These will be transformed into tradable securities to generate wealth and drive diversification.”

Agama noted that the recently enacted Investments and Securities Act, 2025, has equipped the Commission with the tools to take bold steps in expanding the market.

“The Act sharpens the SEC’s regulatory focus, ensuring it operates with the precision and authority required to steward a rapidly expanding market,” he said.

He described the Act as a game changer that would reposition Nigeria for economic growth.

“Today, I speak not just about the Investments and Securities Act 2025 as a legislative milestone but as a strategic blueprint to propel Nigeria into the league of top global economies,” he said, adding, “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.”

According to him, the capital market, under the new legal framework, will serve as the key accelerator toward achieving Nigeria’s $1tn economy target.

“The question before us is no longer if Nigeria can achieve a $1tn economy, but how soon, and the capital market, under this new Act, will be the accelerant,” he added.

Agama also said the Commission now has clear powers to crack down on fraudulent investment schemes that have plagued the financial sector.

He further said that under the new Act, investor protection mechanisms have been strengthened, including compensation for losses resulting from revoked dealer licenses.

“Investors are now covered for losses from revoked dealer licenses, a long-awaited safeguard that will boost participation,” he noted. “Trust is the currency of our capital markets. Without it, liquidity dries up.”

The SEC DG reiterated the Commission’s commitment to market integrity and investor confidence as the foundation for sustainable growth.