Nigeria attracted $10.37 billion in foreign capital in Q1 2026, marking an 83.83 percent increase from $5.64 billion a year ago and a 60.97 percent jump from the previous quarter’s $6.44 billion.
Portfolio investments dominated the inflows, totaling $9.86 billion or 95.09 percent of the overall figure.
Notably, foreign direct investment into Nigeria plunged by 80 percent in January 2026 as investors increasingly channelled funds into bonds and money market instruments despite the sharp rise in overall capital inflows.
Within the portfolio segment, money market instruments attracted the largest share at $6.50 billion, followed by bonds at $3.23 billion and equity investments at $131.81 million.
The financing sector followed with $2.43 billion (23.42 percent), while production and manufacturing drew $152.27 million (1.47 percent).
The United Kingdom remained the leading source of capital, providing $5.08 billion or 49.01 percent of the total, ahead of the United States with $3.18 billion (30.69 percent) and South Africa at $983.83 million (9.49 percent).
Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc received $2.78 billion (26.79 percent), while Rand Merchant Bank accounted for $930.82 million (8.97 percent).
The National Bureau of Statistics compiled the figures from Central Bank of Nigeria data based on fresh foreign capital reported by commercial banks.
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