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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Nigeria attracts $10.37bn capital imports in Q1 2026, NBS reports

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Nigeria attracted $10.37 billion in capital imports in Q1 2026, an 83.83% increase from the previous year.
  • Portfolio investment dominated inflows at 95.09%, with the banking sector receiving the largest share.
  • The United Kingdom was the top source of foreign capital, followed by the United States.

Nigeria's capital inflows surged in the first quarter of 2026, reaching $10.37 billion. This marks a significant 83.83% increase compared to the same period in 2025, signaling renewed foreign investor confidence. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that inflows also rose by 60.97% from the previous quarter.

In Q1 2026, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $10.37bn, higher than $5.64bn recorded in Q1 2025, indicating an increase of 83.83 per cent.

— National Bureau of StatisticsReporting the overall increase in capital importation.

Portfolio investment was the primary driver of this growth, accounting for a substantial 95.09% of the total capital imported. This category alone brought in $9.86 billion. Foreign direct investment, however, represented a smaller portion at $135.08 million (1.30%), with other investments making up the remaining $374.48 million (3.61%).

Portfolio Investment ranked top with $9.86bn, accounting for 95.09 per cent, followed by Other Investment with $374.48m, accounting for 3.61 per cent. Foreign Direct Investment recorded the least with $135.08m, representing 1.30 per cent of total capital importation in Q1 2026.

— National Bureau of StatisticsDetailing the breakdown of capital inflow types.

Within portfolio investments, money market instruments attracted the largest share ($6.50 billion), followed by bonds ($3.23 billion). The banking sector emerged as the most attractive destination for foreign capital, drawing in $7.55 billion, or 72.79% of the total inflows. The financing sector followed with $2.43 billion.

The Banking sector recorded the highest inflow with $7.55bn, representing 72.79 per cent of total capital imported in Q1 2026, followed by the Financing sector, valued at $2.43bn (23.42 per cent), and Production/Manufacturing sector with $152.27m (1.47 per cent).

— National Bureau of StatisticsHighlighting the sectors that attracted the most foreign capital.

The United Kingdom led as the largest source of this capital, contributing $5.08 billion (49.01%). The United States was the second-largest source with $3.18 billion (30.69%), and South Africa followed with $983.83 million (9.49%).

Capital Importation during the reference period originated largely from the United Kingdom with $5.08bn, representing 49.01 per cent of the total capital impor

— National Bureau of StatisticsIdentifying the primary source countries for foreign capital.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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