Nigeria's Portfolio Investment Inflows Hit $6.03 Billion in 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Nigeria's financial account recorded portfolio investment inflows of $6.03 billion, marking a 14.4% increase from $5.27 billion. This surge is part of a broader gross incurrence of financial liabilities totaling $7.22 billion.

The Central Bank of Nigeria's Q1 2026 Economic Report indicates that the rise in portfolio flows, primarily driven by foreign investments in Nigerian equities, significantly outpaced direct investment liabilities, which were nearly six times smaller. Nigeria's external reserves increased to $48.35 billion by the end of March 2026, covering 8.84 months of imports.

The report also noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria's Open Market Operations (OMO) bills were heavily oversubscribed, reflecting strong demand for short-duration naira securities. As of December 2025, Nigeria's consolidated public debt stood at N159.27 trillion, equivalent to 36.94% of GDP, with the Federal Government accounting for N154.92 trillion.