The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has surpassed Lagos as Nigeria’s top destination for foreign investment, according to the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report, titled Nigeria Capital Importation, Q1 2025, showed that the FCT attracted $3.04 billion in capital inflows during the first quarter of 2025, outpacing Lagos, which recorded $2.54 billion over the same period.
This marks the first time Lagos has been dethroned as Nigeria’s leading investment hub, as reported by Daily Trust.
Following the FCT and Lagos, Ogun State received $7.95 million, while Oyo and Kaduna states recorded $7.81 million and $4.06 million, respectively.
Overall, Nigeria’s total capital importation for Q1 2025 reached $5.64 billion, reflecting a 67.12 percent increase compared to $3.37 billion in Q1 2024. When compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2024), capital inflows rose by 10.86 percent from $5.08 billion.
The report highlighted that portfolio investments dominated with $5.20 billion, accounting for 92.25 percent of total inflows, followed by other investments at $311.17 million (5.52 percent), while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) recorded the smallest share with $126.29 million (2.24 percent).
The banking sector was the largest recipient of capital, drawing $3.12 billion (55.44 percent of the total), followed by the financing sector with $2.09 billion (37.18 percent), and the production/manufacturing sector with $129.92 million (2.30 percent).
Regarding the origin of capital, the United Kingdom led with $3.68 billion (65.26 percent), followed by South Africa with $501.29 million (8.88 percent) and Mauritius with $394.51 million (6.99 percent).
Among Nigerian states, the FCT led with $3.04 billion (54.11 percent), followed by Lagos with $2.56 billion (45.44 percent), and Ogun with $7.95 million (0.14 percent). Oyo and Kaduna recorded $7.81 million and $4.06 million, respectively.
On the institutional front, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd topped the list with $2.10 billion (37.29 percent) of capital importation in Q1 2025, followed by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC with $1.39 billion (24.78 percent), and Citibank Nigeria Limited with $1.05 billion (18.66 percent).
