Nigeria’s Capital Importation Hits $6.44bn In Q4 2025
Nigeria attracted $6.44 billion in capital importation in the fourth quarter of 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics has revealed, marking a 26.61 per cent rise from the $5.09 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
Data released by the NBS on Wednesday also showed a 7.13 per cent quarter-on-quarter improvement from the $6.01 billion posted in Q3 2025, pointing to a sustained uptick in foreign investment flows into the country.
“In Q4 2025, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $6.44bn, higher than $5.09bn recorded in Q4 2024, indicating an increase of 26.61 per cent on a year-on-year basis. In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 7.13 per cent from $6.01bn in Q3 2025,” the NBS stated in the report.
Portfolio investment dominated the inflows, accounting for $5.49 billion or 85.14 per cent of the total. Within this category, money market instruments led with $3.08 billion, followed by bonds at $1.97 billion, reflecting a strong investor preference for short-term and fixed-income assets over long-term productive investment.
Foreign Direct Investment contributed $357.80 million, representing 5.55 per cent of total inflows, while other investments stood at $599.65 million or 9.31 per cent.
The banking sector dominated sectoral distribution, attracting $3.85 billion or 59.75 per cent of total capital importation. The financing sector followed with $1.94 billion, representing 30.15 per cent, and the production sector accounted for $308.93 million or 4.79 per cent. Telecommunications, agriculture, and oil and gas recorded comparatively lower inflows, underscoring the heavy concentration of foreign capital in financial services.
The United Kingdom emerged as the largest source of inflows, contributing $3.73 billion or 57.94 per cent of the total. The United States followed with $837.91 million, representing 13 per cent, and South Africa accounted for $516.96 million or 8.02 per cent. Belgium and Mauritius also featured among notable source countries.
On the banking side, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc led with $2.23 billion or 34.58 per cent of total inflows, followed by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited with $1.85 billion or 28.75 per cent. Citibank Nigeria Limited came third with $840.72 million, accounting for 13.05 per cent. Access Bank Plc, Rand Merchant Bank, and First City Monument Bank recorded smaller shares.
While the figures indicate improving investor confidence in Nigeria’s financial markets, the relatively modest level of foreign direct investment raises questions about the depth of long-term capital commitment to the country’s real sector, including manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructure, where the economic impact of foreign inflows tends to be more enduring.