People’s investments depend on capital market integrity – SEC DG

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama, has reiterated the commission’s dedication to playing its part in creating a secure, resilient digital environment that will protect investor confidence, foster economic growth, and safeguard the integrity of the nation’s financial markets.

Agama spoke at the Central Securities Clearing System Cybersecurity conference with the theme: Cybersecurity: Synergising Artificial Intelligence and Infrastructure held in Abuja Thursday.

He said in today’s interconnected world, cybersecurity is no longer an isolated concern; it is foundational to the very fabric of our economic and social systems as many activities, both personal and organisational, are now conducted digitally more than ever before.

This shift, he said, has brought immense efficiencies but has also introduced a new set of risks—cyber risks—that stakeholders must not only recognise but also actively guard against.

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Agama said, “This became more apparent during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated our reliance on technology, remote work, and digital platforms. The pandemic underscored the need to enhance cybersecurity measures to protect individuals, organisations, and sectors from threats lurking in cyberspace.

“At the SEC Nigeria, we understand the vital importance of cybersecurity, particularly in the financial sector. People’s hard-earned savings and investments depend on the integrity of our capital markets, which deserve robust strategies to mitigate cyber risks. Cyber-attacks targeting financial institutions are often aimed at gaining access to sensitive and confidential information, which can have systemic implications not just for a single institution but for the broader economy. Therefore, cybersecurity must be viewed as a critical component of financial stability and national security.”