Nigeria’s capital importation surged to $6.01bn in the third quarter of 2025, representing a 380.16 per cent increase compared to $1.25bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.
The NBS disclosed this in its latest Nigeria Capital Importation (Q3 2025) report published on its website on Saturday. The report showed that capital inflows also rose on a quarter-on-quarter basis, climbing by 17.46 per cent from $5.12bn recorded in the second quarter of 2025 to $6.01bn in Q3.
“In Q3 2025, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $6.01bn, higher than $1.25bn recorded in Q3 2024, indicating an increase of 380.16 per cent. In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 17.46 per cent from $5.12bn in Q2 2025,” the report read.
A breakdown of the data indicated that Portfolio Investment dominated inflows during the period, accounting for $4.85bn or 80.70 per cent of the total capital imported.
Other Investment followed with $864.57m, representing 14.37 per cent, while Foreign Direct Investment recorded the least with $296.25m, accounting for 4.93 per cent of total inflows.
Further details from the report showed that within Portfolio Investment, money market instruments attracted $2.95bn, while bonds accounted for $1.58bn. Equity investment under the portfolio category stood at $328.10m.
Under Foreign Direct Investment, equity inflows amounted to $281.61m, while other capital recorded $14.64m. Sectoral analysis revealed that the Banking sector attracted the highest inflow at $3.14bn, representing 52.25 per cent of total capital imported in the quarter.
The Financing sector followed with $1.86bn or 30.85 per cent, while the Production/Manufacturing sector recorded $261.35m, accounting for 4.35 per cent. Other sectors that received notable inflows included Electrical ($244.86m), Telecommunications ($208.51m), and Shares ($94.89m). Trading attracted $80.94m, while Real Estate recorded $61.07m.
Lower inflows were recorded in Agriculture ($24.67m), Information Technology Services ($11.55m), and Transport ($5.23m). Oil and Gas received $4.60m, while Construction attracted $2.88m.
Public Administration and Defence accounted for $0.35m, Brewing $0.10m, Marketing $0.06m, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation $0.04m, and Health and Social Work $0.02m.
An analysis by banks showed that Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited received the highest capital inflow at $2.12bn, representing 35.17 per cent of the total. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed with $1.79bn or 29.75 per cent, while Citibank Nigeria Limited recorded $561.40m, accounting for 9.33 per cent.
Access Bank Plc received $385.03m, while Rand Merchant Bank recorded $306.92m. Ecobank Nigeria Plc attracted $299.91m, and First Bank of Nigeria Plc recorded $254.29m.
Zenith Bank Plc received $94.89m, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc $80.12m, and Fidelity Bank Plc $56.25m. First City Monument Bank Plc accounted for $49.27m, while United Bank for Africa Plc received $8.39m. Sterling Bank Plc recorded $3.10m, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited $2.87m, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc $2.30m, and Titan Trust Bank Ltd $1.94m.
Polaris Bank recorded $1.73m, Wema Bank Plc $1.16m, Keystone Bank Ltd $0.22m, and Providus Bank Plc $0.16m.
By country of origin, the United Kingdom emerged as the largest source of capital inflows into Nigeria during the quarter, accounting for $2.94bn or 48.80 per cent of total capital imported. The United States followed with $950.47m, representing 15.80 per cent, while the Republic of South Africa accounted for $773.95m or 12.87 per cent.
Other notable sources included Mauritius with $451.46m and the Netherlands with $282.90m. The NBS noted in its methodology that the data were provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria and capture fresh capital entering the economy as reported by commercial banks, excluding other components of foreign direct investment, such as reinvested earnings.
The strong rebound in capital importation in Q3 suggests renewed foreign investor appetite, driven largely by short-term portfolio flows into money market instruments and bonds. However, the relatively low share of Foreign Direct Investment indicates that long-term productive capital remains modest compared to more liquid investments.
The NGGOSSIPS earlier reported that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment unveiled plans to deepen trade facilitation and tighten policy execution in 2026, following a sharp rebound in capital inflows and export performance in 2025.
According to the FMITI Outlook 2026, the ministry will focus on sustaining reform momentum while strengthening implementation frameworks to translate consolidation into sustained growth, exports, and jobs.
News channels won't show you this video
