Nigeria’s capital importation increased by 88 percent to $23.21 billion in 2025, reflecting a significant rise in foreign funds entering the economy for investment, trade and other financial activities, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Capital importation measures the total inflow of foreign funding into a country’s financial system, including foreign direct investment (FDI), portfolio investment and other types of financial flows. These inflows support investment in business, manufacturing, trade and financial markets.
In recent years, Nigeria has recorded rising capital importation, with data showing steady quarterly and annual increases as investor confidence improved.
According to the NBS, total capital importation for full‑year 2025 reached $23.21 billion, compared with approximately $12.36 billion in 2024, marking an 88 percent year‑on‑year increase.
This jump reflects stronger inflows across multiple sectors of the economy during the period under review.
The data shows that portfolio investments remained a major component of the inflows, accounting for a large proportion of total capital imported in 2025.
In addition, FDI, although a smaller component relative to portfolio flows, contributed to the overall importation figure, with investments channelled into sectors including banking, telecommunications, manufacturing and services.
NBS capital importation reports for Q2 and Q3 2025 showed that foreign funds into the economy rose to $11.13 billion in just those two quarters alone, reflecting strong participation by investors in Nigeria’s financial markets.
Portfolio investment accounted for more than 80 percent of the inflows in that period, with other investment types also contributing to total figures.
The consistent upward trend from earlier quarters, including Q1 figures of $5.64 billion, set the stage for the annual total of $23.21 billion recorded for 2025.
Data indicates that a significant portion of capital inflows originated from developed markets, with countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa among leading sources of investment into Nigeria during the year.
Funds entered through various channels, including portfolio investment in equities and bonds, foreign direct investment in businesses, and other investment vehicles.
The Nigerian banking sector emerged as a top recipient of capital imports, as portfolio investors sought exposure to financial markets.
Financing and industrial sectors also attracted significant inflows, while other sectors such as telecommunications and manufacturing recorded participation from foreign investors.
The rise in capital importation suggests growing investor interest in Nigeria’s economy and financial markets.
Increased inflows can support economic growth by providing funding for business expansion, infrastructure development, and enhanced liquidity in financial markets.
However, reliance on portfolio investment can also expose the economy to shifts in investor sentiment and global financial conditions.
