New dawn for investors as NGX extends market hours to 4:00 p.m

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has announced an extension of its daily trading hours, moving closing time to 4:00 p.m. in a bid to improve liquidity and increase investor participation in the capital market.

According to a statement released on Friday, April 17, 2026, the new trading schedule will begin on Monday, April 27, 2026. Under the revised arrangement, the market will now open earlier at 9:00 a.m., compared to the previous 9:30 a.m., effectively lengthening the trading window.

The NGX said the adjustment, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is designed to enhance market efficiency by giving investors more time to respond to information and execute trades.

It also noted that the change aligns with Nigeria’s recent reclassification as a Frontier Market by FTSE Russell, a move expected to attract more foreign investment into the country’s capital market.

The exchange explained that the extended hours will deepen liquidity, improve price discovery, and broaden access for both retail and institutional investors.

According to NGX, the decision followed consultations with market stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and readiness across the trading ecosystem.

The exchange added that longer trading hours are widely used in global markets to improve efficiency and allow quicker absorption of economic and corporate news. It also believes the change will support greater participation from international investors operating across different time zones.

Earlier discussions had considered extending trading hours even further, but the current adjustment represents a gradual implementation approach to assess market impact.

Overall, the NGX said the reform is part of broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s capital market, improve transparency, and strengthen investor confidence while supporting long-term economic growth.