The Director-General of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Emomotimi Agama, has said Nigeria’s removal from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the launch of the T+2 settlement cycle have strengthened the country’s credentials as an investment destination.
Addressing a press briefing in Lagos over the weekend, represented by his colleague Bola Ajomale, Executive Commissioner for Operations at the SEC, Agama described the dual developments as a major step forward. Among his remarks: “This is a good development and it will challenge us to develop sharper surveillance and build capacity to detect errors faster.”
He added: “As Nigeria exits the grey list, this move is a step in reaffirming to the world that Nigeria is a great investment destination.” He also noted that with this change, the SEC’s dispute-resolution department will now be fully operational, backed by increased manpower, and that its monitoring department will be further empowered.
On the other side, the managing director of CSCS, Haruna Jalo‑Waziri, along with the CSCS chairman, Temi Popoola have both hailed the T+2 transition as a landmark achievement. In his remarks, Popoola described the shift as a historical milestone that would boost liquidity, reduce risk and significantly improve investor confidence.
According to them, the move signals Nigeria’s determination to align with global best practices, laying a foundation for increased foreign participation.
The T+2 settlement cycle means that trades will now settle two business days after execution, a shift from the previous T+3 standard. This transformation reflects a broader modernization of Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure, improving efficiency, reducing counter-party risk, and offering faster settlement for investors, brokers, and custodians.
The coincidence of delisting by FATF, which addresses anti-money-laundering and financial-crime concerns and the adoption of T+2 has been interpreted by many market watchers as a strong strategic signal. Nigeria appears to be repositioning itself as a transparent, modern and investor-friendly market.
Overall, Agama, Ajomale, Popoola and Jalo-Waziri suggest that these reforms aren’t just technical or regulatory adjustments; they represent a renewed push to rebuild global investor trust in Nigeria’s capital markets, and to reassert Nigeria as a viable, competitive destination for both domestic and international investment.
