By Al- Kadriyar Abdullahi
With Nigerians losing about ₦1.5 trillion in one year to fraudulent investment schemes, the Federal Government has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of Ponzi operations by strengthening public awareness and investor education nationwide.
In response, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have inaugurated a Joint Committee to deepen investor education and promote safe and legitimate investment practices across the country.
A statement on Monday by Bala Musa, Director of Communication and Media at NOA, said the committee was formally inaugurated on February 19, 2026, at the NOA Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Musa, who represented the Director-General of the agency, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment by both institutions to strengthen public trust and promote informed participation in Nigeria’s capital market.
He noted that while the SEC is responsible for regulating and developing the capital market and protecting investors, NOA’s nationwide structure—spanning states, local governments and communities—positions it to deliver critical investor education messages directly to Nigerians at the grassroots.
“Investor education must not be confined to urban centres. Nigerians across all demographics must have access to accurate information to make informed financial decisions,” he said.
During a presentation at the meeting, the SEC disclosed that Nigerians lost approximately ₦1.5 trillion in the last year to unregulated and fraudulent investment schemes, describing the development as alarming.
The Commission stressed that preventing further losses through aggressive public sensitisation has become a top priority.
SEC also emphasised the importance of leveraging NOA’s statutory mandate for nationwide public enlightenment to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging against Ponzi schemes and other illegitimate investment platforms.
After deliberations, both agencies agreed to develop a comprehensive national investor education and anti-fraud strategy, deploy expert knowledge across financial regulation, communication and grassroots mobilisation, and organise a minimum three-day intensive training programme to equip designated personnel with the technical knowledge required for effective nationwide sensitisation.
The two institutions also agreed to draft and conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the collaboration.
Both NOA and SEC reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Nigerian investors and restoring public confidence in the capital market.
