By Elizabeth Adegbesan
Nigeria’s capital importation surged by 83.8 per cent to $10.37 billion in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1’26), up from $5.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, signaling renewed foreign investor confidence in the country’s financial markets.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed this in its latest Capital Importation Report released on Wednesday, noting also that inflows rose by 60.97 per cent quarter-on-quarter from $6.44 billion in Q4’25.
“In Q1’26, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $10.37 billion, higher than $5.64 billion recorded in Q1’25, indicating an increase of 83.83 per cent,” the NBS stated.
It added that “in comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation increased by 60.97 per cent from $6.44 billion in Q4’25.”
According to the bureau, portfolio investment dominated inflows, accounting for $9.86 billion or 95.09 per cent of total capital importation.
Foreign direct investment stood at $135.08 million, representing 1.30 per cent, while other investments accounted for $374.48 million or 3.61 per cent.
The report showed that money market instruments attracted the largest share of portfolio investments at $6.50 billion, followed by bonds at $3.23 billion, while equity investments stood at $131.81 million.
