NIGERIA’S CAPITAL IMPORTATION JUMPS TO $10.37BN IN Q1 2026 AS FOREIGN INVESTOR CONFIDENCE REBOUNDS
Read Time:2 Minute, 18 Second
Agency Report
Nigeria recorded a total capital importation of $10.37bn in the first quarter of 2026, representing an 83.83 per cent increase compared to the $5.64bn attracted during the same period in 2025, according to the latest Capital Importation Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report also showed a 60.97 per cent rise from the $6.44bn recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting renewed foreign investor interest in Nigeria’s financial markets.
According to the NBS, portfolio investment remained the major driver of foreign capital inflows, accounting for $9.86bn or 95.09 per cent of total capital imported into the economy during the quarter.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contributed $135.08m, representing 1.30 per cent of total inflows, while Other Investments stood at $374.48m or 3.61 per cent.
A breakdown of portfolio investments revealed that money market instruments attracted the largest share at $6.50bn, followed by bond investments valued at $3.23bn, while equity investments accounted for $131.81m.
Sectoral analysis showed that the banking industry emerged as the biggest recipient of foreign capital, attracting $7.55bn, which represented 72.79 per cent of total inflows.
The financing sector followed with $2.43bn or 23.42 per cent, while the production and manufacturing sector received $152.27m, representing 1.47 per cent of total imported capital.
Other sectors that attracted foreign investments included agriculture, trading, telecommunications, information technology services, oil and gas, healthcare, construction, transport, education, consultancy services, and shares.
On the source of inflows, the United Kingdom retained its position as Nigeria’s leading capital origin, contributing $5.08bn or 49.01 per cent of total imported capital.
The United States followed with $3.18bn, accounting for 30.69 per cent, while South Africa contributed $983.83m or 9.49 per cent.
Among financial institutions facilitating the inflows, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited recorded the highest volume with $4.41bn, representing 42.56 per cent of total capital imported.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed with $2.78bn or 26.79 per cent, while Rand Merchant Bank handled inflows worth $930.82m, accounting for 8.97 per cent.
Other participating financial institutions included Citibank Nigeria, Access Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FCMB, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, and United Bank for Africa.
The NBS noted that the figures were compiled from data supplied by the Central Bank of Nigeria and reflected fresh foreign capital reported by commercial banks. The bureau added that the statistics excluded other components of foreign direct investment, including reinvested earnings.
The development comes despite earlier concerns over a sharp decline in foreign direct investment inflows, as investors increasingly favoured bonds and money market instruments over long-term productive investments.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0