UK Tops List as Nigeria’s Capital Inflows Surge by 380% in Q3 2025

The United Kingdom has emerged as the leading source of capital investment in Nigeria for the third quarter of 2025, contributing $2.94 billion, or 48.80 percent, of the total inflows recorded during the period.

This was disclosed in the latest Capital Importation Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

According to the report, Nigeria’s total capital importation for Q3 2025 stood at $6.01 billion, representing a massive 380.16 percent increase compared to the $1.25 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.

The data reveals that the United Kingdom maintained its dominance as the primary source of foreign capital, followed by the United States with $950.47 million (15.80 percent) and South Africa with $773.95 million (12.87 percent).

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Other notable contributors included Mauritius and the Netherlands, signaling renewed global investor confidence in the Nigerian market.

A breakdown of the investment types shows that Portfolio Investment remained the most attractive window for foreign investors, accounting for $4.85 billion, or 80.70 percent of the total capital imported.

“Other Investment” followed with $864.57 million (14.37 percent), while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)—often seen as a measure of long-term economic stability—recorded the least inflow at $296.25 million (4.93 percent).

Sectoral analysis indicates that the Banking sector was the biggest beneficiary of these inflows, attracting $3.14 billion, representing 52.25 percent of the total capital.

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The Financing sector followed with $1.86 billion (30.85 percent), while the Production and Manufacturing sector received $261.35 million (4.35 percent).

The report also highlighted the financial institutions that facilitated these inflows. Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited took the lead, processing $2.12 billion (35.17 percent) of the total capital. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed closely with $1.79 billion (29.75 percent), while Citibank Nigeria Limited handled $561.40 million (9.33 percent).

The $6.01 billion figure for Q3 2025 also represents a 17.46 percent rise from the $5.12 billion recorded in the preceding quarter (Q2 2025), indicating a steady upward trajectory in foreign capital participation in the Nigerian economy.