Capital Importation Rises 102% to $16.4bn in Five Months

Capital importation into Nigeria rose by 101.8 per cent year-on-year to $16.41 billion in the five months to May 2026, up from $8.13 billion recorded in the same period of 2025.

The increase was largely driven by Foreign Portfolio Investment, which rose by 114.42 per cent to $15.61 billion from $7.28 billion. FPI accounted for 95.12 per cent of total capital importation during the period, compared with 89.54 per cent a year earlier.

However, Foreign Direct Investment declined by 9.5 per cent to $190 million, while Other Investments, comprising foreign loans and trade credits, fell by 7.69 per cent to $600 million.

Monthly capital inflows fluctuated during the period, falling to $3 billion in February before rising to $3.85 billion in March, dropping to $2.82 billion in April and recovering to $3.22 billion in May. The monthly movements were largely influenced by changes in portfolio investment.