Nigeria’s Capital Inflow Hits $6.01bn in Q3 2025 Driven by Portfolio Investments
Nigeria’s capital importation surged to $6.01 billion in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, marking a remarkable increase in foreign investment flows into the country. According to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), this growth was largely fueled by a sharp rise in portfolio investments, signaling renewed global confidence in Nigerian financial markets.
The Q3 figure represents a staggering 380.16% jump from the $1.25 billion recorded in the same period last year, and a 17.46% increase compared to the $5.12 billion posted in Q2 2025. Analysts point out that this trend reflects Nigeria’s growing appeal as a destination for short-term foreign capital seeking returns amid a recovering domestic economy.
Portfolio investments remained the dominant component of inflows, totaling $4.85 billion in Q3—accounting for 80.7% of total capital imported. By contrast, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remained relatively modest, rising slightly from $142.67 million in Q2 to $296.25 million in Q3, underscoring Nigeria’s current reliance on short-term investment rather than long-term productive projects.
Sectoral analysis revealed that the banking sector attracted the largest share of inflows, with $3.14 billion recorded in Q3, while the financing sector also saw significant growth, pulling in $1.86 billion. Geographically, the United Kingdom led the inflow charts, contributing $2.94 billion, followed by the United States and South Africa, highlighting the continued interest of Western investors in Nigerian markets.
Experts note that financial institutions such as Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc handled a substantial portion of these transactions, demonstrating the concentration of capital through major banking channels. Overall, the data reflect a strong year-on-year recovery in Nigeria’s capital inflows, driven by the robust appetite of foreign investors for portfolio investments in the country.
source: leadership