Nigeria's total capital importation in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 reached $10.372 billion, marking an 83.83 percent increase compared to the $5.64 billion recorded in the same period of 2025. However, foreign direct investment (FDI) contributed only 1.3 percent of the total inflow.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its Q1 2026 capital importation report released on Wednesday in Abuja. The bureau also noted that capital importation rose by 60.97 percent from $6.44 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Portfolio Investment Dominates
The report revealed that portfolio investment topped the list with $9.86 billion, accounting for 95.09 percent of total capital importation. Other investment followed with $374.48 million, representing 3.61 percent. Foreign direct investment, which the country desperately needs, recorded the lowest figure at $135.08 million, or 1.30 percent of the total. This is a decline from the $296.25 million and $357.80 million recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2025, respectively.
Sectoral Breakdown
In terms of sectoral inflow, the banking sector received the highest amount of $7.55 billion, representing 72.79 percent of total capital imported in Q1 2026. The financing sector followed with $2.43 billion (23.42 percent), while the production and manufacturing sector attracted $152.27 million (1.47 percent).
Origin of Capital
The majority of capital importation originated from the United Kingdom, which contributed $5.08 billion, or 49.01 percent of the total. The United States came second with $3.18 billion (30.69 percent), followed by the Republic of South Africa with $983.83 million (9.49 percent).
