UK buyers drive 65% of Nigeria’s international inflows

Nigeria attracted about 65 per cent of its current international capital inflows from United Kingdom buyers over the previous yr, with investments together with $7.5m into Babban Gona and $40.5m into Johnvent Industries, the Federal Authorities has stated.

The Federal Ministry of Business, Commerce and Funding, within the doc titled ‘2025: A Defining Yr for Nigeria’s Business, Commerce and Funding’, acknowledged that buyers from the UK contributed considerably to the rising funding inflows within the nation.

The doc reviewed reforms and outcomes beneath the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. Based on the ministry, the sturdy UK inflows adopted the activation of the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Commerce and Funding Partnership and broader reforms aimed toward restoring investor confidence and enhancing market entry.

“UK buyers now account for roughly 65 per cent of current inflows, together with $7.5m into Babban Gona and $40.5m into Johnvent Industries,” the commerce ministry, led by Jumoke Oduwole, acknowledged. It described the funding development as proof of renewed confidence in Nigeria’s reform trajectory.

The ministry famous that 2025 marked a defining section in Nigeria’s financial repositioning, as coordinated reforms throughout funding attraction, commerce enlargement, and institutional strengthening translated coverage intent into measurable outcomes.

It famous that Nigeria recorded a decisive turnaround in funding attraction beneath President Tinubu, with the federal government responding strategically to world financial headwinds and “clearly signalling that Nigeria is open for enterprise.”

It added that Nigeria considerably strengthened its funding facilitation structure in the course of the yr, shifting from passive promotion to an energetic, systems-driven mannequin that diminished data gaps, improved challenge visibility and enhanced the bankability of funding pipelines.

Consequently, the ministry stated 4 precedence tasks valued at $13.7bn progressed, representing a conversion charge of over 25 per cent from the $50.8bn value of signed Memoranda of Understanding.

“By way of structured deal origination, FMITI has proactively constructed a de-risked pipeline exceeding $5bn throughout precedence sectors,” the ministry acknowledged, including that the method supported buyers “from first engagement to agency dedication.”

The ministry linked the rising UK inflows to sustained bilateral engagements and commerce modernisation efforts, noting that Nigeria deepened funding pipelines by high-level missions to the UK and different key economies.

It stated these engagements reshaped investor perceptions and strengthened Nigeria’s relevance inside world funding circles, delivering “tangible positive aspects” in deal high quality and investor confidence.

Past international capital, the ministry highlighted progress in export-led development, reporting that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent to $12.8bn within the first half of 2025, almost double the $6.5bn goal.

The expansion contributed to a N12tn commerce surplus within the interval, whereas general commerce worth expanded by 14 per cent, pushed by focused commerce reforms, improved export processes and elevated worth addition.

Nigeria’s main non-oil exports included cocoa and cocoa derivatives, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, shea butter, ginger, hibiscus flower, rubber, palm oil derivatives, fertilisers, cement and liquefied pure fuel.

The ministry famous that it labored with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to coach 27,352 exporters, certify 200 micro, small and medium enterprises for worldwide commerce and help 3,047 farmers by the distribution of hybrid seedlings.

The ministry additionally reported that Particular Financial Zones generated over $500m in export revenues and created greater than 20,000 direct jobs by the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority and the Oil and Gasoline Free Zones Authority.

On macroeconomic efficiency, the ministry stated daring reforms, together with international alternate liberalisation, gasoline subsidy removing and financial tightening, helped restore investor confidence.

It famous that the Nigerian Trade ranked fifth among the many world’s top-performing inventory exchanges in 2025 and fourth in Africa, as mixed international portfolio funding and international direct funding reached almost $14bn between the primary quarter and third quarter, surpassing complete inflows in 2024.

Overseas portfolio funding led the restoration, rising to $12.99bn, whereas international direct funding elevated by 700 per cent quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2025 to achieve $936m year-to-date.

On home capital, the ministry stated the Federal Authorities rolled out an funding retention and enlargement technique anchored on Nigerian buyers, whom it described as “the primary and most enduring vote of confidence within the financial system.”

It cited the internet hosting of Nigeria’s first Home Traders Summit, the place 75 per cent of investor points have been resolved on the spot and all have been closed inside 5 working days, as a shift from ad-hoc engagement to an execution-driven mannequin.

The Minister of Business, Commerce and Funding, Oduwole, additionally led firm visits throughout manufacturing, agro-processing, electrical autos and industrial clusters to resolve bottlenecks and help reinvestment.

The ministry additional stated Nigeria superior its management beneath the African Continental Free Commerce Space, securing appointment as Co-Champion of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Commerce alongside Kenya and South Africa.

Trying forward, the ministry stated it might construct on the momentum in 2026 by specializing in execution and verifiable impression, with investor playbooks in precedence sectors similar to stable minerals, digital commerce, the inventive financial system and climate-smart industrialisation.

“Collectively, these outcomes affirm that 2025 marked a decisive inflexion level for Nigeria, restoring investor confidence, strengthening competitiveness, increasing exports, and laying the muse for sustained and inclusive development,” the ministry acknowledged.