Lagos, April 18, 2026 – The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has expanded its trading hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (WAT) effective Monday, April 27, 2026 to deepen market liquidity, enhance price discovery, and broaden investor access.
According to a statement from the NGX, the expansion has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria.
The new development shifts the market opening time from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and extends the closing time from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., marking a significant evolution in the Exchange’s market structure.
The extended trading window is to provide greater flexibility for investors, improve responsiveness to market-moving information, and support broader participation across the market.
The development builds on the momentum of Nigeria’s recent reclassification to Frontier Market status by FTSE Russell, reinforcing NGX’s global positioning and enhancing its attractiveness to a broader pool of domestic and international investors.
According to the NGX, this reform reflects strong regulatory collaboration and underscores the Securities and Exchange Commission’s continued commitment to advancing market development initiatives.
“Alongside Nigeria’s Frontier Market reclassification, it signals a deliberate shift towards a more accessible, liquid, and globally competitive market.
“The implementation follows extensive stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment and operational readiness ahead of the go-live date. 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.
“With this development, NGX reinforces its position as a leading multi-asset exchange, deepening liquidity, improving market access, and supporting efficient capital formation within Nigeria’s financial markets,” it said.
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