Nigeria’s capital imports have surged to $10.37 billion in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1’26), up from $5.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, which is an 83.8 per cent increase. This signals renewed foreign investor confidence in the country’s financial markets.
In its most recent Capital Importation Report, which was made public on Wednesday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that inflows increased by 60.97 per cent quarter over quarter from $6.44 billion in Q4 ’25.
The NBS said that “total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $10.37 billion in Q1 ’26, higher than $5.64 billion recorded in Q1 ’25, indicating an increase of 83.83 per cent.”
It also stated that “capital importation increased by 60.97 per cent from $6.44 billion in Q4’25 compared to the previous quarter.”
Portfolio investments accounted for $9.86 billion, or 95.09 per cent of all capital imports, as revealed by the bureau.
Foreign investments accounted for $135.08 million, or 1.30 per cent, while $374.48 million, or 3.61 per cent, came from other investments.
According to the research, the largest portion of portfolio investments came from money market instruments ($6.50 billion), followed by bonds ($3.23 billion) and stock ($131.81 million).