NEWS
SEC Tasks Market Operators on Sustained Compliance Culture after Nigeria’s Exit from FATF Grey List
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has urged financial sector stakeholders to strengthen and sustain a culture of proactive compliance to safeguard Nigeria’s position in the global financial system following its recent exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.
Speaking at the Nigerian Capital Market Institute Compliance Summit on Monday, Agama described the gathering as crucial to the future of the country’s financial markets, noting that discussions at the summit touch “the very heart of the market’s integrity, stability and future. ”The Director General said Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List was a major national achievement and a strong global endorsement of the country’s resolve to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.He said: “This was not a mere administrative update; it was a resounding global affirmation of our collective and unwavering commitment”.Crediting the success to the joint efforts of public and private sector institutions, he commended operators, regulators and compliance professionals for their roles in achieving the milestone. The SEC boss, however, cautioned that the exit should not be seen as the end of the journey.“Exiting the grey list is not the finish line; it is the starting block for a new race. The world is watching,” he said.Agama stressed that international investors and global financial institutions will continue to monitor Nigeria to determine whether the reforms are sustainable and whether the country’s compliance culture is deeply entrenched.He said the theme of the summit underscored the need to shift from compliance driven by external pressure to a more strategic, proactive and permanent culture of adherence to global standards.“Robust compliance is no longer a regulatory burden; it is our single most powerful competitive advantage. A compliant market is a transparent market, and a trustworthy market is the destination for capital.”According to him, Nigeria’s strengthened compliance regime signals to the international community that the country is “open for business, safe, secure and sophisticated.”Agama called for continuous improvement across institutions, especially through the adoption of RegTech and SupTech solutions, regular training of compliance officers, and promotion of ethical conduct across the financial services ecosystem.He assured stakeholders that the SEC would continue to provide strong regulatory guidance, constructive supervision and the necessary engagement to keep Nigeria aligned with global standards.The SEC DG urged participants at the summit to share insights and develop practical solutions that will “future-proof” the Nigerian capital market.“Let us work together to ensure that Nigeria never again finds itself on that list,” Agama said, expressing hope that the country would instead feature among the world’s most resilient and compliant emerging markets.In her remarks, Executive Commissioner Legal and Enforcement at the SEC, Frana Chukwuogor said the capital market has a new law that was signed by the President in 2025 saying that one of the greatest challenges that compliance officers and even market operators face, when there’s a change in regulation is that they don’t have enough information on what has changed.She said “How can you be compliant if you don’t know what has changed? So our focus here today is to bring attention, call attention to some of the new issues, some of the new areas that may pose risks to them and the market.Chukwuogor said some of those issues will deal with some of the threats being faced with Ponzi schemes and digital assets.”All of you remember that this October, this just past October, we were removed from the gray list. So, yes, we want every participant, every capital market operator, especially the CEOs, to first know, to compel the people who work with them, especially the compliance officers, to learn the new issues that the Investment and Securities Act 2025 requires of them.The Executive Commissioner disclosed that the Commission intends to measure compliance by ensuring that operators file returns adding that failure to do so could result in sanctions.
By David Torough, Abuja
The founders and Senior Pastors of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Dr. Paul and Dr. (Mrs.) Becky Enenche, have successfully trained and empowered 100 individuals in agribusiness as part of their commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Dr.
Paul Enenche made the announcement during the church’s Thanksgiving and Testimony Service on Sunday, highlighting the initiative as a strategic effort to promote self-reliance and agricultural productivity.According to the cleric, each beneficiary will be allocated at least one hectare of farmland to commence farming activities upon completion of the training programme.
He further disclosed that the beneficiaries will receive monthly stipends to support them until their agricultural produce is ready for harvest.Dr. Enenche noted that the training and empowerment programme represents a significant investment, with each participant’s training costing approximately ₦500,000.
The beneficiaries, who constitute Batch A of the Entrepreneurship Agribusiness Training Programme, graduated from the C.S.S. Farm and Skills Acquisition Centre located along the Keffi–Abuja Road. The entire programme was fully sponsored by Dr Paul,Dr (Mrs.) Becky Enenche and the church as part of their ongoing efforts to empower individuals with practical skills and sustainable means of livelihood.
The initiative reflects the church’s commitment to transforming lives through both spiritual and socio-economic empowerment.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general election, saying INEC has no candidate or political party to favour.
In a post obtained from INEC’s X handle on Sunday, Amupitan stated this during a visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb.
Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, as part of the commission’s stakeholder engagement and preparations for the 2027 elections.The visit formed part of activities surrounding INEC’s planned interactive meeting with staff and readiness assessment at the zonal level.
The INEC chairman was accompanied by National Commissioners, the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Technical Assistant, Chief of Staff, Special Aides and other senior officials of the commission.
Amupitan described traditional institutions as important stakeholders in the electoral process because of their influence and reach within communities.
He said elections were fundamentally about the social contract between citizens and those entrusted with public office, stressing that public trust was essential to the success of democracy.
According to him, INEC has commenced preparations early because of the size and complexity of conducting elections across Nigeria.
He said the commission had moved away from last-minute preparations and was testing, auditing and strengthening its operational systems well ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amupitan assured the Emir that INEC remained committed to neutrality, fairness and transparency in the conduct of elections.
“We have no candidates, we have no political party, we have no interest other than the sovereign will of the people of Nigeria,” the INEC chairman said.
He added that the commission would continue engaging traditional institutions and other stakeholders as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area to track and contain dogs suspected to be infected with rabies.
The service said the suspected rabid dog had bitten 18 people in Garko and its environs.
The NFSS State Commander, Abdullahi Al’ameen, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, on Sunday in Kano.
Al’ameen said: “The command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be rabid has attacked residents in Garko town.
“The dog has so far bitten 11 persons in Garko town before moving to neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai.
“It has also attacked and bitten seven additional persons in the affected communities.”
The commander further explained that they had received another report that two more dogs had been infected with rabies in the area.
Al’ameen said personnel of NFSS Garko Division, under the leadership of the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, had been deployed to the affected areas to track and contain the infected dogs.
He urged residents of Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies.
The commander also advised residents who might have been bitten by suspected rabid dogs to seek immediate medical attention.
Al’ameen assured residents that the NFSS would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent further attacks.(NAN)
Paul Enenche, Wife Train, Empower 100 People in Mechanized Agribusiness
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The founders and Senior Pastors of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Dr. Paul and Dr. (Mrs.)...
2027: Tinubu’s victory, a win for the north, Tompolo tells Kano electorate
ShareGrand patron of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo has said President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the...
INEC Has No Candidates, Party – Amupitan
ShareThe Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality ahead of the...
Rabies Scare: Suspected Infected Dog Bites 18 in Kano
ShareThe Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area to track and...
FG Targets 10m Globally Certified Nigerians by 2030 — Alausa
ShareThe Federal Government said it is working to create one million export-linked jobs and produce 10 million globally certified Nigerians...
Doctors Give FG Two-week Ultimatum to Avert Strike
ShareThe National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve outstanding welfare and...
Diri Urges Newlyweds to Make Forgiveness, Tolerance Foundation of Marriage
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged newly wedded couples to make the virtues of...
Bayelsa at 30: Assembly Clashes with State Executive Today
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa The Bayelsa State House of Assembly will take on members of the State Executive Council in...
Oborevwori Urges Nigerians to Embrace Sacrifice, Patriotism for National Devt
ShareFrom Francis Sadhere, Delta Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged Nigerians to embrace sacrifice, patriotism, courage and...
Nweze Urges S-East Voters to Back Tinubu
ShareFrom Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagements, South-East, Chioma Nweze, has urged people...