Nigeria recorded a robust uptick in capital inflows in the first quarter of 2025, with total capital importation rising by 10.86% to $5.64 billion, up from $5.08 billion in Q4 2024. This represents a significant 67.12% year-on-year increase when compared to the $3.37 billion recorded in Q1 2024.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Capital Importation Report for Q1 2025, the surge was driven overwhelmingly by portfolio investment, which accounted for 92.25% of total inflows, amounting to approximately $5.20 billion.
The breakdown of capital importation by investment type is as follows:
- Portfolio Investment: $5.20 billion (92.25%)
- Other Investments: $311.17 million (5.52%)
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): $126.29 million (2.24%)
The United Kingdom emerged as the top source of capital, contributing $3.68 billion, or 65.26% of the total inflow. It was followed by: South Africa: $501.29 million (8.88%), Mauritius: $394.51 million (6.99%).
In terms of geographical spread within Nigeria, only five states recorded capital inflows during the quarter, highlighting a continued concentration of foreign capital in select regions.
The Q1 performance signals renewed investor confidence and underscores the dominance of short-term portfolio flows in Nigeria’s external financing structure.
