SEC Approves Longer Trading Window For NGX

The Nigerian Exchange Limited has extended its daily trading session to seven hours, effective Monday, 27 April 2026, as the bourse moves to deepen liquidity and align more closely with global market standards.

Trading will now commence at 9:00am and close at 4:00pm West Africa Time, replacing the previous four-hour, thirty-minute window that ran from 9:30am to 2:00pm. The reform has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria.

In a statement issued at the weekend, NGX said the expanded window “will provide greater flexibility for investors, improve responsiveness to market-moving information, and support broader participation across the market.”

The adjustment follows Nigeria’s recent reclassification to Frontier Market status by FTSE Russell, a development that has strengthened the Exchange’s appeal among both domestic and international portfolio managers. Market analysts view the longer session as a practical step toward accommodating increased foreign participation and improving price formation mechanisms.

“The implementation follows extensive stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment and operational readiness ahead of the go-live date,” NGX stated, adding that NGX Regulation Limited will “continue to provide robust oversight to support a smooth and orderly transition, while maintaining high standards of transparency and investor protection.”

The Exchange described the reform as reflecting “strong regulatory collaboration” and underscoring the Commission’s commitment to advancing market development.

With the longer trading day now in effect, NGX has positioned itself to support more efficient capital formation within Nigeria’s financial markets, reinforcing its standing as a leading multi-asset exchange on the continent.