June 8 (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s trade sector attracted $65.79m in foreign investment in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 91.3 percent increase from the $34.39m recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the latest capital importation data.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the sector benefited from renewed investor confidence in commercial activities and cross-border trade, although inflows moderated from the stronger levels recorded in the second half of 2025.
Foreign capital inflows into trade stood at $80.94m in the third quarter of 2025 and rose further to $119.21m in the fourth quarter before easing in the first quarter of this year.
The improved investment performance coincided with trade emerging as the largest contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 17.89 percent of total output.
Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, attributed the sector’s strong performance to improving macroeconomic conditions, including greater exchange rate stability, improved foreign exchange liquidity, easing inflationary pressures and recovering business confidence.
Yusuf, however, cautioned that commerce alone could not sustain long-term economic transformation, stressing the need for stronger productive capacity, industrialisation and domestic value addition.
Industry stakeholders said regional integration initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area would further strengthen trade-led growth across the continent.
Chief Executive Officer of Seedtree Capital, Bowale Adeoye, noted that innovations in trade finance, payment systems and logistics were reducing transaction costs and improving cross-border commerce.
She added that platforms such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System were enabling faster settlement of transactions in local currencies.
The broader NBS report showed that total foreign capital inflows into Nigeria rose to $10.37bn in the first quarter of 2026, compared with $5.64bn a year earlier. Portfolio investment accounted for the largest share of inflows, while foreign direct investment stood at $135.08m.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
