Nigeria’s capital importation surged to $6.44 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a 26.61% year-on-year increase from $5.09 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
This growth is attributed to strong portfolio investments and increased activity in the banking sector. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a quarter-on-quarter increase of 7.13% from $6.01 billion in Q3 2025.
Portfolio investment dominated capital inflows, accounting for $5.49 billion or 85.14% of total capital imported.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contributed $357.80 million, representing just 5.55%, while other investments stood at $599.65 million or 9.31% of total inflows. The banking sector attracted the bulk of inflows, with $3.85 billion, followed by the financing sector with $1.94 billion.
The United Kingdom emerged as the largest source of capital inflow, contributing $3.73 billion or 57.94% of total capital imported. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc recorded the highest capital importation with $2.23 billion, accounting for 34.58% of total inflows.
The latest data signals improving investor confidence in Nigeria’s financial markets, particularly in short-term instruments, amid ongoing monetary and fiscal reforms.
However, the dominance of portfolio investments and low FDI highlight structural concerns, including weak long-term investment appetite and persistent risks in the real sector.
