Nigeria recorded $10.37 billion in capital importation in the first quarter of 2026. This is an 83.83 percent rise from the $5.64 billion that came in during the same period in 2025.
This information was shared in a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.
The latest Capital Importation Report from the bureau also noted that foreign capital inflows grew by 60.97 percent compared to the $6.44 billion seen in the fourth quarter of 2025.
According to the report, the increase shows that more investors are taking part in Nigeria’s financial markets during this period.
Portfolio investment leads the way
The report highlighted that portfolio investment was the largest part of capital importation. It made up $9.86 billion or 95.09 percent of the total inflows during the quarter.
Other investments were $374.48 million, which is 3.61 percent of the total capital imported. Foreign direct investment (FDI) was $135.08 million, making up 1.30 percent of the total.
The NBS pointed out that portfolio investment greatly outperformed other types of capital inflows during this time.
In the portfolio investment category, money market instruments brought in the most at $6.50 billion. Investments in bonds reached $3.23 billion, while equity investments were $131.81 million.
These numbers show that investors still prefer fixed-income instruments over equity investments during the quarter.
Banking sector gets the biggest share
When looking at different sectors, the banking sector got the most foreign capital. It attracted $7.55 billion, which is 72.79 percent of the total capital imported during this period.
The financing sector followed, receiving $2.43 billion or 23.42 percent of the total. Meanwhile, the production and manufacturing sector got $152.27 million, accounting for 1.47 percent of total inflows.
Other sectors that drew foreign investments included agriculture, telecommunications, IT services, oil and gas, healthcare, construction, education, consultancy services, transport, trading, and shares.
The United Kingdom was the top source of capital inflows into Nigeria in the first quarter of 2026. Investments from the UK totaled $5.08 billion, which is 49.01 percent of total capital importation.
The United States came next with $3.18 billion, making up 30.69 percent, while South Africa contributed $983.83 million, or 9.49 percent of the total.
Among banks, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited handled the largest share of capital importation in the quarter. They received $4.41 billion, which is 42.56 percent of the total capital imported into the country.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed with $2.78 billion or 26.79 percent, while Rand Merchant Bank facilitated inflows of $930.82 million, accounting for 8.97 percent.
Other banks that processed foreign capital inflows during this time include Access Bank, Citibank Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FCMB, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, and United Bank for Africa.
The NBS explained that the capital importation statistics came from information provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria and reports from commercial banks about new foreign capital brought into the country. The bureau also mentioned that these figures do not include other parts of foreign direct investment, such as reinvested earnings.
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