Abuja, Nigeria – January 7, 2026: Nigeria attracted nearly $14 billion in combined foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing total inflows recorded in 2024, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment announced.
According to the ministry’s report, foreign portfolio investment led the recovery, totaling $12.99 billion, while FDI showed strong growth from a historically low base, expanding 700% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2025 to reach $936 million year-to-date. The surge reflects renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which included foreign exchange liberalisation, fuel subsidy removal, monetary tightening, and improved investor aftercare.
The ministry noted that progress has been made in converting investment commitments into active projects, with four priority projects worth $13.7 billion advancing during the year, representing over 25% conversion from signed Memoranda of Understanding. Structured deal origination and investor support also created a de-risked investment pipeline exceeding $5 billion across priority sectors.
High-level bilateral engagements and trade missions led by Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole to countries including the UK, US, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, and Brazil strengthened investor pipelines and reshaped perceptions of Nigeria as a credible, reform-driven destination for capital. Additionally, the first Domestic Investors Summit resolved 75% of investor issues on the spot, while all were closed within five working days, marking a shift to an execution-driven model.
On trade and exports, non-oil exports grew 21% to $12.8 billion in H1 2025, nearly doubling the target of $6.5 billion, contributing to a N12 trillion trade surplus. Leading non-oil export products included cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, shea butter, ginger, hibiscus, rubber, palm oil derivatives, fertilizers, cement, and LNG. Special Economic Zones generated over $500 million in export revenues and 20,000 direct jobs.
Nigeria also strengthened its continental trade leadership under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), hosting digital trade engagements, co-championing the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, and publishing its five-year implementation review alongside a provisional tariff concession schedule enabling duty-free trade on 90% of goods across Africa.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to build on 2025’s momentum by focusing on execution and measurable impact in priority sectors including solid minerals, digital trade, creative economy, and climate-smart industrialisation.
“These results affirm that 2025 marked a decisive turning point for Nigeria, restoring investor confidence, strengthening competitiveness, expanding exports, and laying the foundation for sustained and inclusive growth,” the ministry said.
