Nigeria Records $23bn Capital Inflow as Government Seeks More Long-Term Investments
Nigeria attracted $23bn in capital inflows in 2025, up from more than $12bn in the previous year, as the Federal Government seeks to channel growing investor interest into productive sectors of the economy. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this on Monday at the third annual Multi-Door Courthouses and Alternative Dispute Resolution Stakeholders’ Summit in Lagos, adding that foreign exchange reserves had surpassed $50bn and capital importation rose by 83 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.
Despite the reported improvements, Oduwole said the government was focused on attracting more long-term investments capable of expanding local production, creating jobs and boosting exports. She noted that a significant share of capital inflows consisted of short-term portfolio investments in bonds and money market instruments, stressing the need to attract more funding into manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture and other productive enterprises. She also reported that non-oil exports had exceeded $6bn, while economic growth remained above four per cent.
The minister identified efficient commercial dispute resolution and predictable regulations as essential to sustaining investor confidence. She said lengthy legal battles and uncertainty over contract enforcement could discourage businesses from committing funds to long-term projects. To address these challenges, the ministry is pursuing reforms to the investment regulatory framework, including provisions for an investment ombudsman to help resolve investors’ complaints before they escalate into formal disputes. Oduwole also highlighted mediation and arbitration as mechanisms for reducing the costs and delays associated with commercial disagreements.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also stressed the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s alternative dispute resolution system to improve its competitiveness as an investment destination. He cited ongoing efforts to review the country’s arbitration framework and develop a national policy aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading arbitration centre in Africa. Both ministers called for closer cooperation among government institutions, the judiciary and the private sector to build a more predictable business environment and ensure that rising capital inflows translate into sustainable economic growth.
