The Group Managing Director of GTI Group, Abubakar Lawal, has warned that Nigeria’s goal of building a $1tn economy by 2030 may remain out of reach unless the Investments and Securities Act 2025 is enforced with strict discipline and strong coordination across the capital market. Lawal made this point at the 2025 annual conference of the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Lagos on Saturday.
Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu signed the ISA 2025, expanding the instruments tradable in the capital market, including the recognition of digital assets and cryptocurrencies. Lawal, represented at the event by the Managing Director of GTI Capital, Kehinde Hassan, explained that clarity and synergy among regulators, operators, and market participants are necessary if the new law is to support Nigeria’s trillion-dollar ambition.
According to him, the country has reached a crucial stage where fragmented efforts can no longer be tolerated. He stated, “What Nigeria requires now is a unified roadmap, one that integrates ISA 2025 into the broader architecture of the nation’s economic vision.”
Lawal argued that with proper execution, collaboration across institutions, increased public education, and responsible innovation, Nigeria could meet and even surpass its $1tn target while delivering long-term socio-economic gains. Describing ISA 2025 as a transformational reform, he said the legislation provides structure, tools, and opportunities for national development rather than just regulatory guidelines. However, he cautioned that the best laws are meaningless without deliberate implementation.
He urged regulators to act with fairness and foresight, and encouraged operators to embrace innovation guided by responsibility. Lawal further stressed the need for broad investor education to unlock the full potential of the Act. He said awareness must spread nationwide so that investors understand their rights, entrepreneurs see new opportunities, and citizens recognise protections built into the regulatory system.
Highlighting areas covered in ISA 2025, he listed recognition of digital and virtual assets, classification of investment contracts as securities, expansion of eligible issuers, establishment of specialised exchanges, strengthening of commodities exchanges, broadening of non-interest instruments including sukuk, and enhanced regulatory powers for the Securities and Exchange Commission.
According to him, these reforms are directly tied to Nigeria’s economic agenda and support youth inclusion, especially through digital asset recognition. He emphasised that more than 60 per cent of the country’s population consists of young people, describing them as digital natives whose creativity and technological skill can drive future growth. He noted that ISA 2025 gives young Nigerians legitimacy and meaningful participation within the financial system.
Lawal concluded that if Nigeria approaches this reform period with unity and determination, the nation could transform its economy and inspire other African countries by showing what is possible when ambition aligns with decisive action.
