The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to access the Nigerian capital market to finance infrastructure development.

Delivering the keynote address at the Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIE 3.0) on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr Agama said the capital market remains a viable platform for raising sustainable funds to support the FCT’s growing infrastructure needs. He stressed the need for Abuja to emulate Lagos State’s successful use of long-term market financing.

Convened by the Group Managing Director, Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Amb. Maureen Tamuno, the three-day event themed, ‘Building Nigeria’s capital investment as a catalyst for economic growth’, brings together decision makers from government, the private sector, financial institutions, diplomatic missions, multilateral organisations and the global business community.

Agama assured the FCTA of the commission’s technical support in structuring and issuing capital market instruments, stressing that the territory had already demonstrated the capacity to execute projects, making it attractive to investors.

He commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike for proving that public projects in Nigeria can be initiated, executed and completed to a high standard, despite widespread scepticism. According to him, the administration’s ability to deliver infrastructure has become its greatest asset, noting that while funding is available, what investors value most is the capacity to successfully implement projects. He added that once there is a proven record of delivery, financing naturally follows.

He said: “The Securities and Exchange Commission stands ready today to place the full technical weight of the Nigerian capital market behind the completion of your mandate and to work with the Federal Capital Territory Administration through every step of registration, structuring and issuance.”

The SEC boss noted that the FCT could also explore innovative financing options, including regulated digital investment products that would allow ordinary Nigerians to participate in funding infrastructure projects.

According to him, the commission’s digital assets framework makes it possible to create fully regulated, tokenised municipal savings instruments, enabling citizens to invest in infrastructure through fractional bond purchases starting from as little as N10,000.

Drawing attention to the importance of investor confidence, Agama said capital flows only to environments where transparency, accountability and sound governance are guaranteed.

He urged promoters, issuers and public officials to uphold integrity in financial disclosures and governance, noting that investors rely on the credibility of institutions when committing funds.

The keynote speaker further encouraged the FCT to leverage its recent record of infrastructure delivery to unlock more private capital, arguing that successful project execution naturally attracts investment.

Declaring the expo open, Wike, who was represented by the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to creating an investment climate that is both business-friendly and properly regulated.

The Minister said Abuja offers vast investment opportunities across real estate and housing, transportation, agriculture and agro-processing, tourism and hospitality, healthcare, education, renewable energy, technology, digital services, entertainment, waste management and urban infrastructure.

According to him, the capital city’s strategic location at the heart of Nigeria, growing population, international airport, skilled workforce and concentration of government institutions, diplomatic missions and international organisations make it an ideal destination for corporate headquarters, regional offices, innovation hubs, financial services and other high-value investments.

Highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AICL and FCT-Internal Revenue Service, aimed at strengthening collaboration on revenue generation, improving tax compliance, and supporting investment-driven economic growth across the country’s capital.

Earlier, Amb. Tamuno said the expo was designed to convert investment opportunities into tangible projects that would drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.

She said this year’s theme, “Building Nigeria’s Capital Investment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth,” underscores the need for strategic partnerships, innovation and effective implementation to achieve sustainable prosperity.

According to her, ABIE has grown into a strategic platform connecting investors with viable opportunities, adding that the 2026 edition builds on the successes of previous expos and the London International Investment Forum in positioning Abuja as the country’s premier investment hub.

Tamuno commended the FCT Minister for what she described as the remarkable transformation of Abuja through extensive infrastructure development under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She noted that the ongoing investments in roads, bridges, district connectivity, urban renewal and other critical infrastructure have enhanced the capital city’s appeal, improved the ease of doing business and created fresh opportunities for local and foreign investors.

The AICL boss also cited Abuja’s emergence as the fourth-best state on the 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Subnational Ease of Doing Business ranking as evidence of growing investor confidence and an improving business climate.

“Our objective at ABIE 2026 is to convert this progress into real investments, strategic partnerships and sustainable economic growth,” she said.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), Ismael Ahmed; and the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, commended the FCT Administration for creating an enabling environment for investment and economic growth.