Electronic Processing to Begin in Q1 as Commission Advances Digital Transformation
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed all capital market operators to renew their registration between January 1 and 31, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to streamline regulatory processes.
The Commission also announced that electronic receipt and processing of registration applications and updates will commence in the first quarter of 2026, aiming to reduce manual procedures and improve efficiency.
Speaking in Abuja over the weekend, SEC Director-General Emomotimi Agama highlighted that the move reflects the Commission’s commitment to leveraging technology for faster, more transparent, and efficient regulation.
“These initiatives demonstrate our drive to make regulatory processes faster, technology-driven, and transparent,” Agama said. “We are investing in automation, database supervision, and secure infrastructure to improve interactions with the market.”
The SEC boss explained that through the Digital Transformation Portal, operators can now submit applications, upload documents, and track approvals online, cutting down processing time and limiting the need for physical visits.
He further noted that the Commission has launched a Commercial Paper issuance module, enabling market participants to file documents, monitor progress, and receive approvals electronically. Early feedback indicates a clear improvement in turnaround time.
Agama also revealed that the SEC is working to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions, complete with structured templates, system checks, and an upcoming returns analytics dashboard to support risk-based supervision and exception reporting.
“To support these changes, we are upgrading our IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, networks, and security layers, to enhance speed and reliability,” he said. “Selective cloud migration is underway for platforms that require scalability and external access, while core internal systems remain on-premise for now as we evaluate security and cost implications.”
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