Jalo-Waziri: Building trust and global standards key to attract investors

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Central Securities Clearing System, Haruna Jalo-Waziri, emphasized the significance of standards and trust in sustaining global demand for Nigerian instruments. Speaking at the Africa and Middle East Depositories Association Annual Conference in Lagos, Jalo-Waziri highlighted the pivotal role of the Investment and Securities Act 2025 in ushering in rapid changes essential for driving the capital market. He also stressed the importance of listing public institutions that are performing well, like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, as a critical aspect of attracting investors. Jalo-Waziri mentioned the focus on market integration, collaboration, and the expansion of AMIDA's membership as crucial elements in propelling financial market growth in Africa. He pointed out that enhancing interactions through the Secretariat, brokerage firms, advisory companies, investment banks, and exchanges could lead to significant business opportunities and market growth. Additionally, Jalo-Waziri discussed the strategic positioning of the Nigerian market with robust regulations, active participation, and openness to both global and local investors. He noted that the recent signing of the Investment and Securities Act marks a milestone, introducing changes that will drive the market, including the trading of digital assets and improved ease of doing business. Jalo-Waziri also highlighted the expansion of products such as fixed income instruments, ETFs, and the potential introduction of derivatives trading. He called for government encouragement to list successful public institutions like NNPC, NLNG, and NNPC Retail on the market to enhance market liquidity and investor interest.