Nigeria’s Foreign Capital Surges to $21 Billion, Investors Flock Back
Atume Terfa
Nigeria’s economy is attracting global attention as foreign capital inflows surged to $21 billion in the first ten months of 2025, a 75 per cent jump from 2024 and a remarkable rise from under $4 billion in 2023. The figures signal renewed investor confidence in Africa’s largest economy after years of cautious foreign engagement.
Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, disclosed the numbers during the ministry’s 2026 budget defence before the House Committee on Commerce in Abuja. She attributed the inflow surge to over 100 strategic investment engagements within Nigeria and internationally, attracting investors from countries such as the UAE, Brazil, Japan, and traditional partners like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Notably, UK investors alone accounted for 65 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign capital inflows in 2025, underscoring strengthened bilateral economic ties. The inflows encompass foreign direct investment, portfolio investments, and other capital types, reflecting a broader revival in Nigeria’s investment landscape.
Beyond capital inflows, Nigeria posted a trade surplus in 2025, with total trade valued at about ₦113 trillion in the first three quarters, and exports rising by 11 percent year-on-year to $6.1 billion—the highest in both value and volume.
Economists say this wave of investment could drive industrial growth, create jobs, and fortify economic resilience, though they caution that sustained policy reforms, improved infrastructure, and investor support services are vital to maintain momentum.
This capital boom mirrors a global shift of foreign investment toward emerging markets with stable and investor-friendly environments, positioning Nigeria as a rising magnet for international capital in 2026 and beyond.
