Nigeria recorded a sharp rebound in foreign capital inflows in the third quarter of 2025, with total capital importation rising to $6.01 billion, a 380.16 per cent jump from the $1.25 billion posted in the same period of 2024.
This is according to a review of the Nigeria Capital Importation report for the third quarter (Q3) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) over the weekend.
The data shows that inflows also increased by 17.46 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis from $5.12 billion in Q2 2025, underlining renewed investor appetite for Nigerian assets.
Portfolio investment, known as hot money, dominated the inflow mix, accounting for $4.85 billion, or 80.7 per cent of total capital imported during the quarter, highlighting the strong return of short-term and fixed-income investors.
Within the portfolio category, money market instruments accounted for the largest share at $2.95 billion, marking a 296.16 per cent year-on-year surge.
Bond investments followed with $1.58 billion, recording the strongest growth across instruments, with a 2,154.73 per cent year-on-year increase.
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Equity investments totalled $328.10 million, representing a 287.40 per cent increase from the year earlier.
Sectoral analysis shows that the banking industry was the biggest beneficiary of foreign capital, attracting $3.14 billion, or 52.25 per cent of total inflows.
The financing sector followed with $1.86 billion, representing 30.85 per cent, while production and manufacturing accounted for $261.35 million, or 4.35 per cent.
The United Kingdom emerged as the single largest source of capital, contributing $2.94 billion, equivalent to 48.80 per cent of total inflows, while the United States followed with $950.47 million, and South Africa injected $773.95 million.
Other notable sources included Mauritius with $451.46 million and the Netherlands with $282.90 million.
A further look at the report indicates that foreign capital continued to flow into the country largely through a handful of commercial banks.
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited led the pack, receiving $2.12 billion, or 35.17 per cent of total inflows.
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed with $1.79 billion, representing 29.75 per cent, while Citibank Nigeria Limited accounted for $561.40 million, or 9.33 per cent.
Other significant channels included Access Bank Plc with 6.40 per cent, Rand Merchant Bank with 5.10 per cent, and Ecobank Nigeria Plc with 4.99 per cent.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
