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Banking sector attracts 72.8% of total inflows as UK and US lead foreign capital sources, NBS report shows.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $10.37 billion in the first quarter of 2026, representing approximately 84% year-on-year growth from the equivalent period in 2025.
The NBS disclosed this in its Nigeria Capital Importation Q1 2026 report released in Abuja on Friday. The report stated that the Q1 2026 figure was significantly higher than the $5.64 billion recorded in Q1 2025, indicating an increase of 83.83% on a year-on-year basis.
“When compared to the preceding quarter, capital importation also increased by 60.97% from $6.44 billion in Q4 2025,” the report noted.
Portfolio Investment Dominates Inflows
The report revealed that the largest capital importation during the period came from Portfolio Investment, which totalled $9.86 billion, accounting for 95.09% of total capital imported in Q1 2026. This was followed by Other Investment with $374.48 million (3.61%), while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) recorded the lowest inflow at $135.08 million, representing just 1.30% of total capital importation.
Banking Sector Leads Sectoral Inflows
The banking sector recorded the highest inflow at $7.55 billion, representing 72.79% of total capital imported in Q1 2026. It was followed by the Financing sector at $2.43 billion (23.42%), and the Production and Manufacturing sector with $152.27 million (1.47%).
UK and US Top Capital Sources
Capital importation by country of origin revealed that the United Kingdom ranked first with $5.08 billion, accounting for 49.01% of total capital imported. The United States followed with $3.18 billion (30.69%), while the Republic of South Africa placed third with $983.83 million (9.49%).
Standard Chartered, Stanbic IBTC Lead Receiving Banks
Standard Chartered Bank received the highest capital importation into Nigeria in Q1 2026, with $4.41 billion, accounting for 42.56% of the total. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc followed with $2.78 billion (26.79%), while Rand Merchant Bank recorded $930.82 million (8.97%).
