Nigeria received about 65 per cent of its recent foreign capital inflows from investors in the United Kingdom over the past year, with contributions including $7.5 million to Babban Gona and $40.5 million to Johnvent Industries, the Federal Government has reported.
According to a document by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) titled “2025: A Defining Year for Nigeria’s Industry, Trade and Investment,” UK investors played a major role in boosting the country’s foreign investment inflows. The ministry attributed the growth to reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the activation of the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, and broader efforts to improve investor confidence and market access.
The ministry noted that 2025 marked a critical period for Nigeria’s economic repositioning, as coordinated reforms across investment, trade, and institutional structures began delivering measurable results. “UK investors now account for approximately 65 per cent of recent inflows,” FMITI said, highlighting the significant investments in Babban Gona and Johnvent Industries as evidence of renewed confidence in the country’s reform trajectory.
FMITI also reported that the government strengthened its investment facilitation framework, shifting from passive promotion to an active, systems-driven approach. This reduced information gaps, improved project visibility, and enhanced the bankability of investment pipelines. As a result, four priority projects valued at $13.7 billion progressed, representing over 25 per cent of the $50.8 billion in signed Memoranda of Understanding. The ministry said its structured deal origination approach built a de-risked pipeline exceeding $5 billion, supporting investors from initial engagement to firm commitment.
The surge in UK inflows was linked to sustained bilateral engagement and trade modernisation initiatives, including high-level missions to the UK and other key economies. These efforts, the ministry said, helped reshape investor perceptions and enhance Nigeria’s visibility in global investment circles, yielding tangible gains in deal quality and investor confidence.
Beyond foreign capital, Nigeria recorded strong performance in non-oil exports, which grew by 21 per cent to $12.8 billion in the first half of 2025, nearly double the $6.5 billion target. The increase contributed to a N12 trillion trade surplus, while overall trade expanded by 14 per cent, driven by targeted reforms, improved export processes, and increased value addition. Leading non-oil exports included cocoa and derivatives, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, shea butter, ginger, hibiscus, rubber, palm oil derivatives, fertilizers, cement, and liquefied natural gas.
FMITI said it trained 27,352 exporters, certified 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises for international trade, and supported 3,047 farmers through hybrid seedling distribution. Special Economic Zones generated over $500 million in export revenue and created more than 20,000 direct jobs through the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority.
On macroeconomic performance, reforms such as foreign exchange liberalisation, fuel subsidy removal, and monetary tightening helped restore investor confidence. The Nigerian Exchange ranked fifth globally and fourth in Africa in 2025, with combined foreign portfolio and direct investments totaling nearly $14 billion between Q1 and Q3, exceeding 2024 inflows. Foreign portfolio investment reached $12.99 billion, while foreign direct investment surged 700 per cent quarter-on-quarter in Q3 to $936 million year-to-date.
Domestically, the government implemented an investment retention and expansion strategy targeting Nigerian investors, highlighted by the first Domestic Investors Summit, where 75 per cent of investor issues were resolved immediately and all were closed within five working days, marking a shift to an execution-focused engagement model.
