Foreign capital inflows to Nigeria surge in early 2026
Nigeria attracted significant foreign capital in the first quarter of 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The latest report highlights a strong increase in capital importation compared to previous periods, with portfolio investment leading the inflows. The banking sector was the top recipient, while the United Kingdom remained the largest source of foreign capital. Major banks such as Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc played key roles in facilitating these investments.
TLDR
- Nigeria recorded $10.37bn in capital importation in Q1 2026, up 83.83% from $5.64bn in Q1 2025.
- Portfolio investment dominated with $9.86bn, accounting for 95.09% of total inflows in Q1 2026.
- The banking sector attracted $7.55bn, representing 72.79% of capital imported in Q1 2026.
- The United Kingdom contributed $5.08bn, making up 49.01% of total foreign capital in Q1 2026.
- Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited received the highest inflow at $4.41bn, or 42.56% of the total in Q1 2026.
