The Federal Government is considering plans to encourage the listing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and selected government-owned assets on the Nigerian Exchange as part of efforts to improve transparency and expand public participation in wealth creation.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele disclosed the proposal on Monday at the National Capital Market Conference 2026 in Abuja.
Oyedele said the government was considering the listing of selected state-owned enterprises and other suitable public assets, arguing that capital-market participation could improve corporate accountability and allow Nigerians to share in the value generated by government investments.
“NNPC and good choice assets of government have to be listed because by doing that, we will actually get a minimum outcome and transparency will improve,” he said.
The minister added that the government intended to encourage major companies operating in Nigeria to list on the domestic exchange, a move that could deepen the capital market and widen investment opportunities.
Listing a state-owned company on a stock exchange can introduce additional disclosure obligations, investor scrutiny and governance requirements, depending on the terms of the transaction and the applicable regulations.
It can also provide a route for citizens and institutional investors to acquire shares in businesses previously owned entirely or predominantly by the state.
However, Oyedele’s remarks indicate that the government is considering the proposal; they do not establish that a final decision has been made on the timing, structure or proportion of any NNPC share sale.
Any future transaction would require further details on valuation, ownership arrangements, regulatory approvals and the protection of the public interest.
The proposal comes as Nigeria seeks to mobilise domestic capital, strengthen investor participation and improve transparency in the management of public assets.