Nigeria attracted nearly $14 billion in combined foreign investment within the first nine months of 2025, surpassing the total inflows recorded for the whole of 2024, according to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
The disclosure, made in early January 2026, highlights growing investor confidence following a series of economic reforms implemented by the Federal Government.
The Ministry said the surge in capital inflows was driven largely by policy changes under the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to reposition the economy for sustainable growth and industrial expansion.
Key among these reforms is the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, allowing rates to be determined more transparently by market forces. Officials noted that this move has helped reduce uncertainty for foreign investors and improved capital repatriation prospects.
Another major factor cited was the removal of fuel subsidies, a long-standing policy that placed heavy pressure on public finances. By eliminating the subsidy, the government has sought to redirect funds toward infrastructure development and productive sectors of the economy.
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In addition, tighter monetary policy measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), including higher interest rates, were credited with helping to curb inflation and stabilise the naira.
The Ministry disclosed that the $14 billion inflow was made up of both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI). FDI accounted for long-term commitments in sectors such as manufacturing, solid minerals, and industrial processing, while FPI flowed mainly into financial instruments, including equities and bonds.
During the period under review, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) was ranked among the world’s best-performing stock markets, further boosting portfolio inflows.
A significant portion of the investment inflows also came in the form of commitments from strategic international partners. Notably, Indian investors pledged about $14 billion following a presidential investment roundtable held on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, signalling strong interest in Nigeria’s medium- to long-term prospects.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Federal Government said it plans to sustain the momentum by rolling out sector-specific “investor playbooks” targeting solid minerals, digital trade, the creative economy, and climate-smart industrialisation. The CBN has projected that continued reforms and capital inflows could help raise Nigeria’s external reserves to over $51 billion by the end of 2026.
