US Capital Inflows to Nigeria Jump 566% to $2.23bn Despite Trade Tensions
Investors from the United States injected $2.23bn into Nigeria’s economy in the first nine months of 2025, marking a dramatic 566 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The figures, obtained from the latest Capital Importation report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, show that US capital inflows rose sharply from $334.71m in 2024 to $2.229bn in 2025 — a year-on-year increase of $1.89bn.
The surge comes despite renewed trade tensions between both countries. Under President Donald Trump, the United States imposed reciprocal tariff measures, including a 15 per cent levy on selected Nigerian exports, alongside broader trade penalties tied to foreign policy considerations. Yet, the data suggests that these policy shifts have not discouraged American investors from deepening their stakes in Africa’s largest economy.
A quarterly breakdown highlights the steady momentum. In Q1 2025, US investors brought in $368.92m, more than four times the $89.27m recorded in the same quarter of 2024. The figure climbed significantly to $909.84m in Q2 and further to $950.47m in Q3 2025. Overall, Nigeria recorded $16.78bn in total capital importation during the nine-month period, up from $7.23bn in 2024, with US investments accounting for a growing share of the rebound.
Indeed, America’s contribution to Nigeria’s total capital imports nearly tripled — from 4.63 per cent in 2024 to 13.29 per cent in 2025. Analysts say the strong inflows in the second and third quarters helped cushion fluctuations from other foreign sources. This resilience is particularly notable as visa reciprocity rules were tightened in July 2025, limiting most nonimmigrant visas for Nigerians to single-entry, three-month validity, with additional restrictions scheduled to take effect in 2026.
Speaking at a fireside chat at the Lagos Business School, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., signalled a strategic shift in bilateral relations — from aid to trade. According to him, Washington is prioritising private-sector-led investment and deeper commercial ties. His remarks reinforce the broader message behind the numbers: despite tariffs and travel barriers, investor confidence in Nigeria’s long-term economic potential appears to be strengthening rather than fading.
source: punch