Capital inflows into Nigeria surged by 67.1 per cent to $5.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025 from the $3.4 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
This is according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) titled Nigeria Capital Importation Q1 2025 released on Tuesday.
The figure also reflects a 10.86 per cent rise from the $5.1 billion reported in the fourth quarter of 2024.
“In Q1 2025, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at US$5642.07 million, higher than US$3376.01 million recorded in Q1 2024, indicating an increase of 67.12%. In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 10.86% from US$5089.16 million in Q4 2024,” the report stated.
The NBS also stated that portfolio investment ranked top with $5.2 billion, accounting for 92.3 per cent, followed by other investment with $311.17 million, accounting for 5.5 per cent.
According to the NBS, Foreign Direct Investment recorded the least with $126.29 million accounting for 2.2 per cent of total capital importation in the period under review.
Giving sector breakdown, the stats office said the banking sector recorded the highest inflow with $3.13 billion, representing 55.4 per cent of total capital imported in Q1 2025, followed by the Financing sector, valued at $2.09 billion (37.2 per cent), followed by Production/Manufacturing sector with $129.92 million (2.3 per cent).
The report further noted that capital importation during the reference period originated largely from the United Kingdom with $3.68 billion, showing 65.3 per cent of the total capital imported.
This was followed by the Republic of South Africa with $501.29 million (8.9 per cent) and Mauritius with $394.51 million (6.9 per cent).
The report noted that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) received the highest amount of capital importation in Q1 2025, besting Lagos during the period.
“Out of the five states that recorded capital importation during the quarter, Abuja (FCT) remained the top destination with $3047.45 million, accounting for 54.11% of the total capital imported. Lagos State followed with US$2564.68 million (45.44%), and Ogun State with US$7.95million (0.14%).
“Others were Oyo and Kaduna States with US$7.81 Million and 4.06 Million respectively,” the NBS report stated.
The report noted further noted that Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd received the highest capital importation into Nigeria in Q1 2025 with $2.10 billion, followed by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC with $1.40 billion and Citibank Nigeria Limited with $1.05 billion.