Capital Importation Surges 380% to $6bn in Q3 2025
Nigeria recorded a sharp rise in capital inflows in the third quarter of 2025, with total importation hitting $6.01 billion, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The figure represents a 380% increase compared to $1.25 billion in Q3 2024, and a 17.5% rise from $5.12 billion in Q2 2025, underscoring sustained investor interest in the economy.
Portfolio investment dominated inflows at $4.85 billion (80.7%), followed by other investments at $864.6 million (14.4%). Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was the smallest contributor at $296.3 million (4.9%).
Sectoral analysis showed the banking industry attracted $3.14 billion (52.3%), while the financing sector received $1.86 billion (30.9%). Production and manufacturing accounted for $261.4 million (4.4%).
The United Kingdom was the largest source of inflows, contributing $2.94 billion (48.8%), followed by the United States with $950.5 million (15.8%) and South Africa with $774 million (12.9%). Together, these three countries accounted for the bulk of capital importation.
Among financial institutions, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited received $2.12 billion (35.2%), Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc attracted $1.79 billion (29.8%), and Citibank Nigeria Limited recorded $561.4 million (9.3%).
Analysts say the dominance of portfolio-driven transactions highlights continued foreign investor confidence in Nigeria’s financial system, though the relatively low FDI inflows suggest structural investment challenges remain.
The NBS report confirms that capital importation reached a six-year high of $16.7 billion in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting Nigeria’s improving attractiveness to global investors.
