Nigeria’s capital importation witnessed a turnaround in 2025 as the country is regaining the attention of global investors.
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s capital importation jumped 88% to reach $23.21 billion by the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
This significant surge, up from $12.31 billion in 2024, marks the strongest annual performance in six years and signals a growing confidence in the federal government’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that capital importation captures the inflow of funds from abroad to fuel investment, trade, and manufacturing within a country.
The NBS reported that the primary engine behind this recovery was Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), often referred to as “hot money.”
Throughout 2025, FPI accounted for over 80% of total inflows, as international investors sought to capitalize on high-yielding money market instruments and government bonds.
Data from the NBS Capital Importation Report for 2025 showed that capital inflows stood at $5.64 billion in Q1 2025, declined slightly by 9.2 percent to $5.12 billion in Q2, then rose by 17.4 percent to $6.01 billion in Q3, and further increased by 7.15 percent to $6.44 billion in Q4.
According to the NBS report: Q4 2025 capital importation was $6.44 billion, up 26.61 percent from $5.09 billion in Q4 2024.
Portfolio investment dominated with $5.49 billion (85.14% of total), followed by Other Investment at $599.65 million (9.31%) and Foreign Direct Investment at $357.80 million (5.55%).
By sector, the Banking sector received the largest inflow with $3.85 billion (59.75%), followed by the Financing sector at $1.94 billion (30.15%) and the Production/Manufacturing sector at $308.93 million (4.79%).
By country of origin, the UK contributed $3.73 billion (57.94%), the US $837.91 million (13%), and South Africa $516.96 million (8.02%).
By recipient bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc led with $2.23 billion (34.58%), followed by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd with $1.85 billion (28.75%) and CitiBank Nigeria Ltd with $840.72 million (13.05%).
“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% on a year on year basis,” the NBS said.
“In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 7.13% from $6,014.77 million in Q3 2025.”
The bureau said foreign portfolio investments (FPI) dominated inflows, totalling $5.48 billion or 85.14 percent of the total capital importation 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.
“The banking sector recorded the highest inflow with $3,850.14 million, representing 59.75% of total capital imported in Q4 2025, followed by the Financing sector, valued at $1,942.44 million (30.15%), and the Production/Manufacturing sector with $308.93 million (4.79%),” the NBS said.
“Capital Importation during the reference period originated largely from the United Kingdom with $3,733.37 million, representing 57.94% of the total capital imported.
“This was followed by the United States with $837.91 million (13.00%) and the Republic of South Africa with $516.96 million (8.02%).”
