Capital inflows into Nigeria increased to its highest level in the last seven years, signaling renewed investor interest in Africa’s most populous economy as market conditions improve.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that total capital importation increased year-on-year (YoY) by 88.5 percent to $23.21 billion in 2025 from $12.31 billion in 2024.
The report showed that in Q1’25, capital imported into the country stood at $5.64 billion.
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In Q2’25, capital importation declined by 9.2 percent to $5.12 billion, but increased in Q3’25 by 17.4 percent to $6.01 billion.
The upward trend continued in Q4’25 when capital importation rose by 7.15 percent to $6.44 billion.
“In Q4 2025, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $6,443.48 million, higher than $5,089.16 million recorded in Q4 2024, indicating an increase of 26.61 percent on a year-on-year basis,” the NBS said.
“In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 7.13 percent from $6,014.77 million in Q3 2025.”
The bureau stated that foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) dominated inflows, totaling $5.48 billion, or 85.14 percent of the total capital import value, while other investments contributed $599.65 million (9.31 percent).
Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for $357.8 million (5.55 percent) of the total capital importation for Q4 2025.
A sectoral analysis revealed that the banking industry received the largest share, followed by the financing sector and the production/manufacturing sectors.
“The banking sector recorded the highest inflow with $3,850.14 million, representing 59.75 percent of total capital imported in Q4 2025, followed by the financing sector, valued at $1,942.44 million (30.15 percent), and the production/manufacturing sector with $308.93 million (4.79 percent),” the NBS said.
“Capital importation during the reference period originated largely from the United Kingdom, with $3,733.37 million, representing 57.94 percent of the total capital imported.
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“This was followed by the United States with $837.91 million (13.00 percent) and the Republic of South Africa with $516.96 million (8.02 percent).”
The NBS also said Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc received the highest capital importation during the reference period with $2.22 billion (34.58 percent), followed by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd. with $1.85 billion (28.75 percent), and CitiBank Nigeria Ltd with $840.72 million (13.05 percent).