SEC Expresses Commitment to Green Economy

The Securities and Exchange Commission has said it will continue to strive to deliver coordinated and coherent policy advice, capacity building and regulatory support to build the momentum for a green economy.

Mr Lamido Yuguda, the Director-General, SEC, said this in a goodwill message at the official launching ceremony of the FMDQ Green Exchange on Tuesday.

He said the commission remained a strong advocate for the promotion of infrastructural development through sustainable financing.

According to him, SEC believes that the huge budget deficit and the infrastructural gap in the country can be financed by harnessing resources available from sustainable finance investors and interest groups around the world.

He said, “Without doubt, there are tremendous opportunities in the areas of power generation and transmission, rail transportation, housing, agriculture and water among others, where sustainable financing can be an avenue for the private sector to partner with government in the overall drive for prosperity and economic development.

“The commission had in December 2018 released the rules on green bonds to support the issuance of debt instruments with a positive impact on the environment.

“Although the Nigerian capital market has recorded some green bond issuances, there is ample room for additional issuances as stakeholders within the sector can do more in terms of green and sustainable finance, especially considering the available global investment opportunities and our domestic development needs.”