The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked capital market operators (CMOs) to renew their registration between January 1 and January 31, 2026.
Emomotimi Agama, the director-general (DG) of the SEC, spoke in an interview in Abuja over the weekend, according to a statement from the commission.
Agama said the regulator will commence electronic receipt and processing of applications for registration and updates to registration information in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 as part of efforts to streamline regulatory processes.
He said the initiative reflects the commission’s commitment to leveraging technology to achieve faster, more transparent, and efficient regulation.
“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 has activated end-to-end automation of registration and licensing, allowing operators to submit applications, upload documents and track approvals online.
The SEC DG said automation has reduced processing time and minimised the need for physical visits.
‘WORK ONGOING TO AUTOMATE QUARTERLY, ANNUAL RETURNS SUBMISSIONS’
He said the commission has deployed a commercial paper issuance module that allows operators to file documents, monitor progress, and receive approvals electronically.
Feedback from early users “indicates a clear improvement in turnaround time,” the SEC DG said.
“Work is ongoing to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions, with structured templates and system checks to ensure accuracy. A returns analytics dashboard is also in development to support risk-based supervision and exception reporting,” Agama said.
“To back these changes, we have started upgrading our IT infrastructure, servers, storage, networks, and security layers, to boost speed and reliability.
“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 Nigeria’s capital market is on a clear path toward digital transformation, stressing the need for regulatory clarity on advanced technologies, targeted support for smaller firms and capacity-building initiatives.
The DG said a phased and proportionate approach to regulating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence is essential, alongside internal readiness through supervisory technology tools.
Agama said safeguarding investor data, preventing market abuse, and maintaining operational resilience are non-negotiable.
He urged operators to uphold fairness, transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance, noting that responsible technology adoption is critical to building trust and strengthening the long-term credibility and competitiveness of Nigeria’s capital market.
