Nigeria’s main stock exchange is lengthening its trading day, in a shift aimed at making the market more responsive, liquid, and globally competitive.
Nigerian Exchange Limited said trading will now run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (WAT), starting April 27, extending both the opening and closing bells. The change, approved by Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria, moves the start of trading 30 minutes earlier and adds 90 minutes to the close.
The exchange says the longer window is designed to improve price discovery and give investors more time to react to market-moving information, particularly in an era of rapid global capital flows and real-time data.
For institutional investors, the adjustment could help align Nigeria more closely with international trading cycles, reducing the friction that comes from shorter, less flexible market hours. For retail participants, it offers a wider window to enter or exit positions, especially as domestic participation in equities gradually deepens.
The move comes as Nigeria seeks to reposition its capital market following its recent reclassification by FTSE Russell to Frontier Market status, a label that can influence how global funds allocate capital. Extending trading hours is part of a broader push to improve market infrastructure and signal readiness for increased foreign participation.
Behind the scenes, the shift also reflects coordination between regulators and market operators, with the exchange indicating that systems and participants have been prepared for a smooth transition. Oversight will continue under NGX Regulation to ensure orderly trading and maintain investor protection standards.
Market operators say the longer session could translate into deeper liquidity over time, though the impact will ultimately depend on whether trading volumes follow the additional hours.
Brokerage firm Coronation Securities noted that investors stand to benefit from greater flexibility, particularly the ability to respond to late-session price movements and adjust portfolios closer to market close.
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