Nigeria drew in $6.44 billion of international investment in the final quarter of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Nigeria's total capital importation reached $6.44bn in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a 26.61 per cent increase from the $5.09bn recorded in the same period of 2024.

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This growth was also reflected in a 7.13 per cent rise compared to the $6.01bn posted in the third quarter of 2025, indicating a sustained upward trend in foreign investment in the country.

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A year-on-year comparison showed that total capital importation into Nigeria increased by 26.61 per cent, from $5.09bn in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $6.44bn in the fourth quarter of 2025.

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In comparison to the preceding quarter, the data revealed a 7.13 per cent increase in capital importation, rising from $6.01bn in the third quarter of 2025 to $6.44bn in the fourth quarter.

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Portfolio investment dominated the inflows, accounting for $5.49bn, or 85.14 per cent of the total capital importation, with Foreign Direct Investment and other investments contributing $357.80m and $599.65m, respectively.

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Foreign Direct Investment represented 5.55 per cent of the total, while other investments accounted for 9.31 per cent, highlighting the varying compositions of capital inflows into Nigeria.

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A closer examination of the portfolio investment revealed that money market instruments attracted $3.08bn, while bonds drew $1.97bn, demonstrating investors' ongoing preference for short-term and fixed-income assets.

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The banking sector emerged as the largest recipient of capital importation, securing $3.85bn, or 59.75 per cent of the total, followed by the financing sector with $1.94bn, representing 30.15 per cent.

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The production sector accounted for $308.93m, or 4.79 per cent, of the total capital importation, while other sectors, including telecommunications, agriculture, and oil and gas, recorded relatively lower inflows.

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The United Kingdom was the leading source of capital, providing $3.73bn, or 57.94 per cent of the total inflows, followed by the United States with $837.91m, representing 13.00 per cent.

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South Africa contributed $516.96m, or 8.02 per cent, while Belgium and Mauritius also figured among the key sources of investment in Nigeria.

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Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc led the capital importation with $2.23bn, representing 34.58 per cent of the total, followed by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited with $1.85bn, or 28.75 per cent.

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Citibank Nigeria Limited accounted for $840.72m, or 13.05 per cent, of the total inflows, while other banks, including Access Bank Plc, Rand Merchant Bank, and First City Monument Bank, recorded smaller shares.

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The data suggests improving investor sentiment towards Nigeria's financial markets, particularly in short-term instruments, although the relatively low level of foreign direct investment indicates that long-term capital inflows into the real sector remain weak.