₦airaland Forum

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has emerged as the top destination for foreign investment into Nigeria, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report titled Nigeria Capital importation, Q1 2025, said the FCT attracted $3.04bn to come first from the $2.54bn Lagos attracted during the period.

Daily Trust reports that this will the first time Lagos will lose its first place as the top destination for foreign investment into the country.

The report added that Lagos is followed by Ogun State with $7.95m, Oyo with $7.81m and Kaduna with $4.06m.

The report went on to state that the country generated a total capital of $5.64bn, which is higher than the $3.37bn recorded in Q1 2024, indicating an increase of 67.12 percent.

It added that in comparison to the preceding quarter of Q4 2024, capital importation increased by 10.86 percent from $5.08bn.

It explained that Portfolio Investment ranked top with $5.20bn, accounting for 92.25 percent, followed by other investments with $311.17m, accounting for 5.52 percent and Foreign Direct Investment recorded the least with $126.29m (2.24 percent) of total capital importation in Q1 2025.

“The Banking sector recorded the highest inflow with $3.12bn, representing 55.44 percent of total capital imported in Q1 2025, followed by the Financing sector, valued at $2.09bn (37.18 percent), and Production/ Manufacturing sector with $129.92m (2.30 percent).

“Capital Importation during the reference period originated largely from the United Kingdom with $3.68bn, showing 65.26 percent of the total capital imported. This was followed by the Republic of South Africa with $501.29m (8.88 percent) and Mauritius with $394.51m (6.99 percent).

“Out of the five states that recorded capital importation during the quarter, Abuja (FCT) remained the top destination with $3.04bn, accounting for 54.11 percent of the total capital imported. Lagos State followed with $2.56bn (45.44 percent), and Ogun state with $7.95m (0.14 percent).

“Others were Oyo and Kaduna States with $7.81m and $4.06 Million respectively. Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd received the highest capital importation into Nigeria in Q1 2025 with $2.10bn (37.29 percent), followed by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC with 1.39bn (24.78 percent) and Citibank Nigeria Limited with US$1.05bn (18.66 percent).”

In two years, FCT overtakes Lagos as Nigeria’s top foreign investment destination — Q1 2025

🟢2023
Q1
Lagos: $704.87m
FCT: $410.27m

Q2
Lagos: $778.06m
FCT: $194.28m

Q3
Lagos: $303.83m
FCT: $194.66m

Q4
Lagos: $711.68m
FCT: $370.80m

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🟢2024
Q1
Lagos: $2.78bn
FCT: $593.58m

Q2
Lagos: $1.37bn
FCT: $1.24bn

Q3
Lagos: $650.41m
FCT: $600.02m

Q4
Lagos: $3.20bn
FCT: $1.85bn

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🟢2025
Q1
Lagos: $2.56bn
FCT: $3.05bn

Only six states and the FCT secured foreign investment in Q1 2025
FCT: $3.05bn
Lagos: $2.56bn
Ogun: $7.95m
Oyo: $7.81m
Kaduna: $4.06m
Kano: $117,000
Ekiti: $4,250

Total in Q1: $5.63bn

christistruth01:
We are absolutely delighted for Abuja

May be Lagos will finally be decongested

WizardOfNG:
Gbamsolutely endorsed post. Please Nigerians from outside Lagos, start flocking to Abuja. Na beg we Lagosians beg Una.😎

Bobloco:
Lagos is filled to the brim; Abuja is the next destination.

PulaPower:
The report added that Lagos is followed by Ogun State with $7.95m, Oyo with $7.81m and Kaduna with $4.06m.

Damnn

I was rooting for Anambra!

Racoon:
Perhaps the ethnic profiling and discrimination going in Lagos is beginning to give potential investors a serious call for concern

OfoIgbo:
Xenophobia in Lagos is beginning to yield fruits.

There is no reason Abuja should be ahead of Lagos, especially as Lagos is the commercial/financial capital of Nigeria.

The last two years of Tinubu's administration is beginning to gradually destroy the economic attraction and potentials of Lagos

christistruth01:
We are absolutely delighted for Abuja

May be Lagos will finally be decongested

owobokiri:
It has always be because the of the presence of the federal government. It has nothing to do with any sectional imput

christistruth01:
We are absolutely delighted for Abuja

May be Lagos will finally be decongested

Justiceleague1:
Yes..and allow real genuine indigenous lagosians to breathe

WizardOfNG:
Gbamsolutely endorsed post. Please Nigerians from outside Lagos, start flocking to Abuja. Na beg we Lagosians beg Una.😎

WizardOfNG:
Gbamsolutely endorsed post. Please Nigerians from outside Lagos, start flocking to Abuja. Na beg we Lagosians beg Una.😎

Armaggedon:
I wonder how anybody will find this surprising. This is just part of a larger trend. Abuja with better plan, better road network, smooth traffic, busier airport and most importantly, peaceful coexistence among the ethnic groups who dominate it ie Igbos, middle belt and South South guys etc Abuja is poised to overtake Lagos. The surprising thing is that it's not only happening faster than expected but it's happening in several ways at Lagos expense. This shows that investors are sensitive to the increasing volatility of Lagos in the past few years, as predicted.

WizardOfNG:
Gbamsolutely endorsed post. Please Nigerians from outside Lagos, start flocking to Abuja. Na beg we Lagosians beg Una.😎

raskymonojendor:
I am indigenous and I am happy just as christthetruth is happy.

PulaPower:
The report added that Lagos is followed by Ogun State with $7.95m, Oyo with $7.81m and Kaduna with $4.06m.

Damnn

I was rooting for Anambra!