Nigerian Investors Pocket N29 Trillion in Just Three Months as Economy Undergoes Reforms

Nigeria's stock market wrapped up the first quarter of 2026 with impressive gains, as investors reaped benefits of over N29 trillion in just three months, buoyed by ongoing economic reforms in the country.

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The market capitalization of all listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) surged to N129.2 trillion by the end of March, marking a significant increase from N99.4 trillion at the start of January.

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The NGX All Share Index (ASI), a key indicator of overall stock prices, saw a substantial jump of 29.4%, closing March at 201,287 points, up from 155,613 points in January, demonstrating a notable upswing in investor confidence.

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Since March, the ASI has consistently remained above the crucial 200,000 mark, signaling a major support zone and underscoring the market's resilience in the face of intermittent downturns.

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The prevailing uptrend has been sustained by steady liquidity inflows and targeted participation by institutional investors, reinforcing the market's overall stability.

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In January, investors recorded a return on investment of N6.77 trillion, representing a 6.3% increase, as market capitalization and ASI closed at N106.153 trillion and 156,370.40 points, respectively.

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February saw investors gain N17.61 trillion, or 16.6%, with market capitalization and ASI closing at N123.763 trillion and 165,370.40 points, respectively, while March brought in N5.446 trillion, or 4.4%.

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Despite some fluctuations in March, the market generally maintained a positive trajectory, driven by strong companies that continued to attract investor interest, thereby supporting the overall upward trend.

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Global oil prices also experienced a sharp increase in March, with Brent crude exceeding $117 per barrel due to tensions in the Middle East, which is expected to boost Nigeria's foreign currency earnings and strengthen its economy, although inflation remains a concern.

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Yesterday's trading activities saw the NGX close on a positive note, driven by share price appreciation in MTN, which rose by 5.85%, and PZ, which increased by 4.59%, resulting in a 0.40% gain in the benchmark index, ASI.

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Market capitalization also rose by 0.40%, while the total value of stocks traded and the total volume of stocks traded increased by 38.65% and 49.63%, respectively, to settle at N35.56 billion and 887.68 million units.