Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria plunged by 80 per cent in January 2026, even as overall capital inflows rose sharply, according to the latest Economic Report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). FDI fell to $30m from $150m in December 2025, highlighting a slowdown in long-term investment commitments.
In contrast, foreign portfolio investment surged to $3.37bn from $940m in the previous month, driven largely by stronger inflows into bonds and money market instruments. The CBN noted that the rise in portfolio flows was the main driver of increased capital importation during the period. Overall capital importation climbed to $3.52bn in January 2026, up from $1.25bn in December. The report showed that portfolio investments accounted for 95.72 per cent of total inflows, while direct investment contributed just 0.77 per cent, underscoring investors’ preference for short-term financial assets over long-term productive investments.
