Capital inflows into Nigeria surged to 5.6 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 67 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. That’s according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics, which shows continued investor interest in the Nigerian economy.
The report, titled Nigeria Capital Importation Q1 2025, also indicates a 10.8 percent rise from the fourth quarter of 2024. The majority of the inflow came through portfolio investments, which accounted for over 92 percent, while foreign direct investment lagged behind, making up just 2.2 percent of the total.
The banking sector emerged as the top recipient, attracting over 3.1 billion dollars—or more than half of the total capital imported—followed by financing and manufacturing sectors. The NBS data shows that the United Kingdom was the largest source of inflows, contributing over 65 percent of the total, followed by South Africa and Mauritius.
Analysts say while the rise in capital importation is encouraging, the dominance of short-term portfolio investments highlights the need for deeper structural reforms to attract more long-term foreign direct investment.
