Nigeria's FDI Stays Below 4% Despite $23.22 Billion Import

In 2025, Nigeria recorded a total capital import of $23.22 billion, a significant increase from $12.32 billion in 2024. However, foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for only $923.01 million, or 3.97% of this total, reflecting a decline from 5.48% in 2024.

The data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that while FDI rose by $248.30 million year-on-year, the share of FDI in total capital import fell by 1.51 percentage points. Portfolio investments were the primary driver of capital import, reaching $19.74 billion, which is 21 times larger than FDI inflow.

The FDI showed quarterly improvements, with the strongest performance in Q4 2025, contributing approximately 38.8% of the annual total. Despite the increase in FDI, the overall picture remains weak, as the total FDI for 2025 was still below the value of portfolio investments recorded in individual quarters.