Nigeria saw $10.37 billion in capital importation in the first quarter of 2026. This is an 83.83 percent rise from $5.64 billion in the same period of 2025.
This information comes from a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.
The NBS report also revealed that foreign capital inflows grew by 60.97 percent from the $6.44 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The report states that this increase shows stronger interest from investors in Nigeria’s financial markets during this time.
Portfolio Investment Leads
The report highlighted that portfolio investment was the biggest part of capital importation. It made up $9.86 billion, which is 95.09 percent of the total inflows for the quarter.
Other investments added up to $374.48 million, making up 3.61 percent of total capital imported. Foreign direct investment (FDI) was $135.08 million, accounting for 1.30 percent.
The NBS noted that portfolio investment greatly outperformed other types of capital inflows.
In the portfolio investment category, money market instruments had the highest inflows, totaling $6.50 billion. Investments in bonds reached $3.23 billion, while equity investments were $131.81 million.
The figures show that investors preferred fixed-income instruments over equity investments during the quarter.
Banking Sector Draws Most Investment
Looking at different sectors, the banking sector attracted the most foreign capital. It received $7.55 billion, which is 72.79 percent of all capital imported during this time.
The financing sector followed with $2.43 billion, or 23.42 percent of the total. The production and manufacturing sector got $152.27 million, which is 1.47 percent of the total inflows.
Other sectors that drew foreign investments include agriculture, telecommunications, IT services, oil and gas, healthcare, construction, education, consultancy, transport, trading, and shares.
The United Kingdom was the top source of capital inflows into Nigeria for the first quarter of 2026. Investments from the UK were $5.08 billion, making up 49.01 percent of total capital importation.
The United States followed with $3.18 billion, accounting for 30.69 percent, while South Africa contributed $983.83 million, or 9.49 percent of the total.
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited handled the most capital importation during the quarter. The bank received $4.41 billion, which is 42.56 percent of the total capital imported.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc came next with $2.78 billion, or 26.79 percent. Rand Merchant Bank facilitated inflows of $930.82 million, accounting for 8.97 percent.
Other banks that processed foreign capital inflows included Access Bank, Citibank Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FCMB, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, and United Bank for Africa.
The NBS said that the capital importation statistics were gathered using data from the Central Bank of Nigeria and reports from commercial banks on new foreign capital entering the country. The bureau added that these figures do not include other parts of foreign direct investment, like reinvested earnings.
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