March 16, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s equities market reached a historic milestone on Monday, as the NGX All‑Share Index climbed above the 200,000-point mark, driven by sustained investor demand and gains across major sectors.
The benchmark index advanced by 1.55 percent, closing at 201,474.89 points compared with 198,407.30 points in the previous session. This lifted the market’s month-to-date return to 4.48 percent and the year-to-date performance to 29.47 percent, underscoring the strong momentum in Nigeria’s stock market.
Market capitalisation also rose to ₦129.33 trillion, up from ₦127.36 trillion, as gains in large-capitalisation stocks supported the broader market rally.
Commenting on the development, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group, said the milestone reflects growing confidence in the country’s capital market.
According to him, ongoing economic reforms are strengthening domestic capital formation, while increased participation by local investors and improving corporate fundamentals are reinforcing the role of the capital market in wealth creation and long-term economic growth.
Trading activity remained strong during the session, with 72,700 deals recorded, as investors exchanged 948.1 million shares valued at ₦49.15 billion. The financial services sector accounted for the largest share of trading volume, highlighting continued investor interest in banking and related stocks.
Jude Chiemeka, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, attributed the record performance to sustained market participation and consistent demand across sectors.
He noted that the Exchange remains focused on improving market liquidity, strengthening trading infrastructure, and enhancing price discovery to support a transparent and resilient marketplace.
Among the day’s top performers were BUA Cement Plc, Premier Paints Plc, John Holt Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc, and FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, while laggards included VFD Group Plc, Royal Exchange Plc, Omatek Ventures Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, and Regency Alliance Insurance Plc.
Market analysts say the crossing of the 200,000-point threshold underscores the sustained rally in Nigerian equities, which continues to attract increased interest from both domestic and institutional investors.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
