The Nigerian Exchange Limited (Nigerian Exchange Limited) has officially commenced its expanded trading schedule, extending daily market hours in a move aimed at improving liquidity, price discovery, and investor participation.
Effective Monday, April 27, 2026, trading on the bourse will now run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., replacing the previous 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule. The adjustment adds more than three hours to the trading day.
The exchange confirmed the development in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, describing the change as a new phase in market operations.
“It’s live. Effective today, 27 April, the market opens a new chapter—earlier start, longer close, and more time to act. From this moment, trading just got more flexible, more responsive, and more aligned with opportunity. 9:00 a.m. marks more than the opening gong. It marks a shift. Now, let’s get trading,” NGX said.
The revised trading hours had earlier been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), following an April announcement by NGX outlining plans to modernise market structure and improve efficiency.
Market operators say the extended hours are expected to give investors more time to react to domestic and global developments, potentially improving price formation and deepening market liquidity.
The change comes as Nigerian markets continue to attract increased participation from foreign and local investors, amid broader reforms aimed at strengthening capital market performance.
Analysts note that the longer trading window may also help align Nigeria’s market operations more closely with global financial markets, improving responsiveness to international economic and commodity trends.
With the new schedule now in effect, market participants are expected to adjust trading strategies as the exchange enters what it describes as a more “flexible and opportunity-driven” phase.