SEC says commodities exchanges, warehouses can unlock $500bn in dormant assets

Emomotimi Agama, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Emomotimi Agama, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has said that by formalising Commodities and Warehouse receipts in the capital market can unlock $500 billion in dormant agricultural and mineral assets.

Agama who stated this at a national workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Abuja Tuesday, said the move would transform them into tradeable securities.

He noted that would help the economy diversify from the oil and gas industry, and create wealth for the country.

Agama explained that the Investments and Securities Act 2025 has empowered the SEC to take decisive actions to promote the sector.

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

He added: “Today, I speak not just about the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 as a legislative milestone, but as a strategic blueprint to propel Nigeria 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. The question before us is no longer if Nigeria can achieve a $1 trillion economy, but how soon—and the capital market, under this new Act, will be the accelerant”.

The SEC DG stressed that the Commission “now has explicit powers to shut down Ponzi schemes and prosecute offenders—ending the era
of “get-rich-quick” scams that erode market confidence.

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

Iheanyi Nwachukwu

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with almost two decades journalism experience writing on banking, finance, capital markets, and tax. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA). Other trainings Iheanyi attended include: Economic/Political Risk Analysis (By Thomson Reuters Foundation); International Financial Journalism (IFJ) (By PMA Media Training, UK); Effective Business Writing Skills (By Phillips Consulting); Reporting on Corporate Governance (By International Finance Corporation (IFC) & Thomson Reuters Foundation UK); etc. In addition, he has participated in high-level economy & markets events in Dubai, South Africa, Morocco, and other African countries like Zambia, Ghana and Gambia.