Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, said the Nigerian capital market has experienced exponential growth since he assumed office in 2022.

He reiterated the group’s commitment to deepening Nigeria’s capital market based on President Bola Tinubu’s vision of growing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product to one trillion dollars by 2030.

In a statement released on Friday in Lagos, Mr Kwairanga was said to have made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the “For the Love of Our Country (FLOC) 2025” symposium, held at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Friday.

He spoke on the theme, “Reimagining Nigeria’s Economy for a Prosperous Future: Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We Should Be in the Next Decade.”

According to him, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose from 48,837 basis points to 111,742 basis points, while market capitalisation grew from N26.375 trillion to N70.463 trillion by May 2025.

He said that bond markets were included with total market capitalisation now at over N121 trillion.

He stated, “This growth shows that we have more than doubled the indices of both our equity and bond markets in just over two years. However, our goal is even more ambitious as we work towards making the capital market central to achieving a $1 trillion economy.’’

Mr Kwairanga emphasised the strategic importance of a robust capital market in financing long-term infrastructure, encouraging formalisation of businesses, and mirroring the nation’s true economic potential.

He noted with concern that Nigeria’s market capitalisation remained less than 20 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, compared to South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange which exceeded its national GDP.

To address this, he outlined several initiatives being undertaken by NGX Group and its regulators, particularly the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to enhance market transparency and efficiency.

He said these include the dematerialisation of share certificates, resolution of unpaid dividend backlogs, and the recent reduction in clearing time for secondary market transactions to T+2.

He added, “We are working closely with regulators and stakeholders to make our market more accessible and attractive.”

He said that major listings in the oil and gas sector, such as the planned sale of a stake in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and the anticipated listing of Dangote Petrochemicals, would significantly boost market capitalisation.

He also spoke on digital innovation as a key driver of market participation, citing the launch of NGX Invest; a digital platform for primary market offers and financial literacy campaigns targeting youths, students, and members of the National Youth Service Corps.

The chairman revealed the ongoing engagements with institutional investors such as pension fund administrators and mutual funds.

He also hinted on the development of sophisticated products such as exchange-traded funds, derivatives, and ethical investment instruments.

He highlighted efforts to integrate African capital markets through cross-border linkages that would allow investors in Nigeria to trade shares listed on exchanges in countries such as Ghana and vice versa.

Despite challenges such as declining disposable income, infrastructural deficits, and global economic headwinds, Mr Kwairanga expressed optimism that these could be surmounted.

He noted, “We are confident that Nigeria will have the broader, deeper, and more sophisticated capital market it deserves before the end of this decade.’’

(NAN)