Economy
SEC Tasks CBN, Others on Understanding Crypto Space for Proper Guidance
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The need for regulators in the financial industry in the country, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to understand the crypto asset space for proper regulations has been stressed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
According to the Director-General of the SEC, Mr Lamido Yuguda, if the regulators can do this, they would be better positioned to address identified risks.
Recently, the CBN ordered banks in the country to close down all accounts of individuals and companies trading cryptocurrencies.
This sparked reactions from many quarters, including the National Assembly. The Senate had to summon the Governor of the apex bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele, to explain the reason for his action.
While appearing before the joint session of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Capital Market and ICT and Cyber Crime in Abuja last Tuesday, Mr Emefiele noted that the action was taken to protect Nigerians as trading in crypto was risky.
But the DG of SEC crypto-assets can be regulated for the benefits of the citizens, noting that his agency was committed to enhancing financial inclusion in the country through technology.
According to him, SEC recognises the disruption of fintech in the financial industry and aims to create an enabling regulatory environment that would ensure a balance between investor protection and technological advancement.
“We believe that fintech would not only bring about efficiency to the capital market but would also serve as a veritable tool for advancing Nigeria’s financial inclusion agenda.
“However, there is a need to develop an appropriate regulatory framework to ensure the safety of innovation to investors and preserve market integrity,” he submitted.
He said the SEC will advance efforts towards developing a comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures that operators in the crypto asset space conduct their activities in a manner that protects investors and maintains financial system stability.
“The SEC will continue to monitor developments in the digital asset space and further engage/collaborate with all critical stakeholders, including the CBN, to create a regulatory structure that enhances economic development while promoting a safe, innovative and transparent capital market,” he added.
According to Mr Yuguda, the SEC’s approach is consistent with the approaches of several securities regulators around the world as in the United States of America, the US SEC requires platforms that offer trading in digital asset securities and operate as exchanges to register or seek to be exempted from registration.
“In the United Kingdom, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires firms that carry on specified activities, by way of business, involving a crypto asset, to be authorised. Crypto assets are viewed as financial products in South Africa and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) requires persons carrying out associated activities to be regulated.
“In Malaysia, operators of digital asset platforms are required to be approved by the Securities Commission (SC) as recognized market operators. Several other securities regulators have taken similar positions,” he informed the lawmakers.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Mr Uba Sani, said the team was on a fact-finding mission in the interest of Nigerians and the nation’s economy.
“We shall look at the position of the CBN who have said cryptocurrencies are very volatile and support insurgency. The Senate will always support innovation and the effective use of ICT for economic empowerment.
“We are aware of the damage it has done and we are poised to protecting our economy and ensure that our people benefit where necessary,” he said.
By Dipo Olowookere
A total of 8.736 billion equities worth N134.577 billion exchanged hands in 180,290 deals last week on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, higher than the 4.847 billion equities valued at N149.755 billion traded in 174,267 deals in the preceding week.
This significant rise in the activity level was driven by demand for insurance stocks following the signing of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 by President Bola Tinubu.
Linkage Assurance, Consolidated Hallmark, and Universal Insurance were the most active in the five-day trading week, accounted for 3.195 billion shares worth N6.594 billion in 3,964 deals, contributing 36.57 per cent and 4.90 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Data showed that the financial services counter led the activity chart with 7.483 billion equities valued at N70.980 billion in 77,227 deals, contributing 85.65 per cent and 52.74 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
The agriculture industry traded 201.906 million shares worth N7.863 billion in 11,450 deals, and the services sector sold 191.921 million stocks for N2.484 billion in 10,595 deals.
Mutual Benefits topped the gainers’ log after it chalked up 60.44 per cent to close at N2.92, AIICO Insurance gained 59.82 per cent to sell for N3.50, Royal Exchange appreciated by 59.33 per cent to N2.39, Sovereign Trust Insurance jumped by 59.06 per cent to N2.72, and Cornerstone Insurance grew by 54.46 per cent to N6.41.
On the flip side, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank lost 24.13 per cent to settle at N5.00, Academy Press declined by 18.18 per cent to N9.00, The Initiates eased by 12.73 per cent to N12.00, UPDC REIT slowed by 11.76 per cent to N8.25, and Legend Internet moderated by 11.72 per cent to N5.65.
When compared with the previous week, 66 equities appreciated versus 54 equities a week earlier, 41 shares depreciated versus 49 shares in the previous week, and 39 stocks closed flat versus 43 stocks in the preceding week.
Business Post reports that the All-Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation appreciated by 3.18 per cent to 145,754.91 points and N92.215 trillion, respectively.
Also, all other indices finished higher apart from the corporate governance, banking, pension, AFR Bank value, AFR Dividend Yield, MERI Value, growth, and commodity indices, which depreciated by 0.64 per cent, 0.75 per cent, 0.14 per cent, 1.01 per cent, 0.66 per cent, 1.25 per cent, 7.91 per cent, and 2.33 per cent, respectively.
By Dipo Olowookere
The upward trend at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited was disrupted by profit-taking in MTN Nigeria, BUA Cement, Lafarge Africa, Abbey Mortgage Bank and 25 others on Friday.
Business Post reports that the local bourse closed lower by 0.56 per cent yesterday, the first loss recorded in 27 straight trading sessions, with the last on July 1, 2025.
It was observed that the decline happened despite Customs Street recorded 42 price gainers and 29 price losers, indicating a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.
Abbey Mortgage Bank topped the losers’ log yesterday after it depreciated by 9.87 per cent to N6.30, Custodian Investment tumbled by 8.48 per cent to N40.45, Deap Capital slipped by 7.53 per cent to N1.35, The Initiates lost 7.34 per cent to close at N12.00, and NPF Microfinance Bank declined by 7.25 per cent to N3.20.
On the flip side, the trio of Champion Breweries, Union Dicon and Universal Insurance gained 10.00 per cent each to trade at N14.41, N9.90, and N1.10 apiece, as Guinness Nigeria and AXA Mansard increased their share prices by 9.99 per cent each to finish at N155.75, and N14.64, respectively.
The industrial goods and consumer goods sectors were down by 1.54 per cent and 0.02 per cent apiece on Friday, as the commodity index closed flat.
However, the insurance space continued its positive momentum after it closed higher by 16.11 per cent, the energy counter grew by 0.38 per cent, and the banking industry expanded by 0.19 per cent.
When the closing gong was struck to signal an end to trading activities for the session, the All-Share Index (ASI) moderated by 815.80 points to 145,754.91 points from 146,570.71 points and the market capitalisation contracted by N516 billion to N92.215 trillion from N92.731 trillion.
On Friday, the market participants transacted 2.2 billion stocks valued at N32.4 billion in 35,036 deals versus the 2.0 billion stocks worth N27.3 billion traded in 35,291 deals a day earlier, representing an uptick in the trading volume and value by 10.00 per cent and 18.68 per cent apiece, and a reduction in the number of deals by 0.72 per cent.
Insurance equities dominated the activity table yesterday, with Linkage Assurance selling 585.6 million units for N1.2 billion, and Universal Insurance trading 213.2 million units worth N234.5 million.
Further, AIICO Insurance exchanged 178.5 million units valued at N618.1 million, Mutual Benefits transacted 137.8 million units worth N402.5 million, and Sterling Holdings traded 115.3 million units valued at N927.4 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange completed an entire week without a single gain after it lost 0.14 per cent on Friday, August 8. It was the fifth-straight session the platform ended in red territory this week.
The poor performance weakened the market capitalisation by N3.04 billion to N2.140 trillion from the N2.143 trillion it quoted at the preceding session, as the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) decreased by 5.19 points to 3,655.10 points from 3,660.29 points.
Investors’ appetite waned further as there was a 69.2 per cent slide in the volume of securities to 485,742 units at the session from the 1.6 million units posted in the preceding session just as the value of securities declined by 57.8 per cent to N23.2 million from N54.9 million, and the number of deals went down by 57.5 per cent to 17 deals from 40 deals.
Okitipupa Plc closed the session as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 154.4 million units transacted for N5.0 billion, followed by Air Liquide Plc with 507.2 million units worth N4.2 billion, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 43.7 million units valued at N1.9 billion.
Also, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) maintained its position as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 1.1 billion units worth N362.1 million, trailed by Impresit Bakolori Plc with 536.9 million units sold for N524.8 million, and Air Liquide Plc with 507.2 million units traded for N4.2 billion.
The bourse ended the trading session with two price gainers and two price losers led by Okitipupa Plc, which lost N2.76 to close at N237.24 per share compared with the previous day’s N240.00 per share, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, which fell by 50 Kobo to settle at N53.50 per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of N54.00 per unit.
For their gainers, IGI Plc chalked up 4 Kobo to end at 43 Kobo per share versus 39 Kobo per share, and Food Concepts Plc garnered 1 Kobo to finish at N3.22 per unit versus N3.21 per unit.
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