The finance minister says listing selected state-owned enterprises could attract investment, improve transparency and expand opportunities for Nigerians to own stakes in national assets……
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged the Federal Government to fast-track plans to list selected state-owned enterprises on the Nigerian capital market as part of efforts to expand its value to $1 trillion over the next decade.
Speaking at the National Capital Market Conference 2026 in Abuja on Monday, Oyedele said Nigeria should pursue a more ambitious target than the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) plan to grow the market from about N250 trillion to N750 trillion by 2036.
He argued that achieving a $1 trillion capital market would complement Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and sustain further economic expansion in the years ahead.
According to the minister, achieving the target would require the country to mobilise domestic savings, attract foreign investment and strengthen opportunities for businesses to raise long-term financing within Nigeria.
Oyedele identified the proposed listing of selected government-owned companies as one of the measures that could significantly increase the market’s size while improving corporate accountability and expanding public participation in national wealth.
He specifically named the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as potential candidates, arguing that making their shares available to investors could substantially deepen the capital market.
“NNPC’s potential market value could significantly increase the size of Nigeria’s capital market, drawing a comparison with Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil company,” Oyedele said.
The minister maintained that listing state-owned enterprises would create opportunities for Nigerians to acquire stakes in major national assets, while opening up additional investment channels for both local and foreign investors.
He added that broader public ownership of government businesses could improve transparency and strengthen the role of the capital market in mobilising funds for economic growth.
