Foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector surged to $13.53 billion in 2025, a 93.25% year-on-year rise from $7.00 billion recorded in 2024, driven by aggressive capital raising ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recapitalisation deadline.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) capital importation report shows the sector retained its position as the top destination for foreign investment, accounting for 58.26% of total inflows in 2025, up from 56.81% in 2024.
Quarterly figures indicate sustained investor participation throughout the year. Inflows rose to $3.13 billion in Q1 2025 from $2.07 billion in the same period of 2024, increased to $3.41 billion in Q2 (from $1.12 billion), climbed to $3.14 billion in Q3 (from $579.48 million), and reached $3.85 billion in Q4 (from $3.23 billion).
ALSO READ Nigeria’s foreign reserves drop $547m in two weeks
The sector maintained a dominant share of total inflows across all quarters—55.44% in Q1, 66.56% in Q2, 52.25% in Q3, and 59.75% in Q4—reflecting consistent investor focus compared to more volatile shares recorded in 2024.
Overall, Nigeria’s capital importation rose sharply to $23.22 billion in 2025 from $12.32 billion in 2024, representing an 88.45% increase. The banking sector alone accounted for over $6.53 billion of the $10.90 billion total increase, underscoring its pivotal role in the inflow surge.
The trend is largely attributed to the ongoing recapitalisation exercise, which has pushed banks to tap foreign capital via equity offerings, private placements, and strategic investments, with new minimum capital thresholds set as high as N500 billion for international banks.
CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said 32 banks have met the revised capital requirements, while lenders have collectively raised N4.61 trillion under the programme—signalling strong investor appetite and rising foreign participation.
The apex bank noted that the exercise is already boosting investor confidence and supporting regional expansion by Nigerian banks.
With the March 31, 2026 deadline approaching, sustained inflows suggest significant progress, though the final phase may still see consolidation through mergers or licence adjustments.
