Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows climbed to $21 billion between January and October 2025, marking a sharp increase compared to previous years.
The figure represents a 75 per cent rise from $12 billion recorded in 2024 and more than a 425 per cent jump from under $4 billion in 2023, according to Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Oduwole disclosed the figures during her ministry’s budget defence before the House Committee on Commerce last Wednesday.
The minister attributed the surge to more than 100 bilateral investment engagements conducted both locally and internationally. New partners such as the UAE, Brazil and Japan joined traditional allies including the United States and the United Kingdom.
She noted that UK investors accounted for about 65 per cent of Nigeria’s total foreign capital inflows in 2025.
“Our engagements have strengthened investor confidence, and the UK remains the largest source of capital importation into Nigeria,” she told lawmakers.
Capital importation figures include foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and other inflows.
On trade performance, Oduwole reported that Nigeria recorded a surplus in 2025, with total trade valued at approximately ₦113 trillion in the first three quarters of the year.
Exports rose 11 per cent year-on-year to $6.1 billion, the highest level ever recorded in both value and volume, she said.
In a related development, the Nigerian equities market gained ₦1.2 trillion at the close of trading last Thursday.
The benchmark All-Share Index (ASI) rose to 170,005.36 points, up from 168,030.18 recorded the previous day. Market capitalisation increased to ₦109.1 trillion, compared to ₦107.8 trillion on Wednesday.
Market breadth was positive, with 57 stocks advancing, 17 declining and 74 unchanged across 46,104 deals. A total of 712.9 million shares valued at ₦22.2 billion were traded.
Guinea Insurance, CNIF and Seplat Energy led the gainers with 10 per cent share price growth each. On the downside, DeapCap, Universal Insurance and HM Call posted the steepest declines.
Access Holdings led trading by volume with 106 million shares exchanged, while Geregu topped the value chart with ₦2.8 billion worth of trades.
The combined surge in FDI and stock market performance signals renewed investor confidence, as the government intensifies efforts to attract foreign capital and deepen trade partnerships.
