Nigeria reported $6.44 billion in total capital imports in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 26.61 percent from $5.09 billion during the same period in 2024.
Inflows increased by 7.13 percent from $6.01 billion in the third quarter of 2025, according to data issued on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics, indicating a persistent improvement in foreign investment into the nation.
“Total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $6.44 billion in Q4 2025, higher than $5.09 billion recorded in Q4 2024, indicating an increase of 26.61 percent on a year-over-year basis,” the report said.
“From $6.01 billion in Q3 2025, capital importation increased by 7.13% compared to the previous quarter.”
According to a breakdown of the statistics, portfolio investments continued to be the largest source of inflows, making up $5.49 billion, or 85.14% of the total.
$357.80 million, or 5.55 percent, came from foreign direct investment, compared to $599.65 million, or 9.31 percent, from other investments.
Subsequent study revealed that bonds provided $1.97 billion to portfolio inflows, while money market instruments contributed $3.08 billion, demonstrating investors’ ongoing preference for short-term and fixed-income assets.
According to sectoral distribution, the banking industry received $3.85 billion, or 59.75 percent, of all capital imports.
With $1.94 billion, or 30.15 percent, the financing sector came next, followed by the production sector with $308.93 million, or 4.79 percent.
The concentration of foreign investment in financial services is demonstrated by the relatively lower inflows into other industries including oil and gas, telecommunications, and agriculture.
With $3.73 billion, or 57.94 percent of all inflows, the United Kingdom emerged as the top source of capital by country of origin.
The United States provided $837.91 million, or 13.00 percent, and South Africa gave $516.96 million, or 8.02 percent.
Other important investment sources included Belgium and Mauritius.
With $2.23 billion, or 34.58 percent of all inflows, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc led the banking sector in capital imports.
Following it were Citibank Nigeria Limited with $840.72 million, or 13.05 percent, and Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited with $1.85 billion, or 28.75 percent.
Access Bank Plc, Rand Merchant Bank, and First City Monument Bank were among the other institutions that reported lower percentages of inflows.
Although the data indicates that investor opinion regarding Nigeria’s financial markets is improving, especially with regard to short-term instruments, the comparatively low level of foreign direct investment suggests that long-term capital inflows into the real sector are still poor.
