Nigeria's FDI hasn't reached $200 million in any quarter Since 2022

Nigeria's FDI has dropped significantly. From an average of $417m per quarter (2013-2015) to less than $100m (Q1 2022 - Q2 2024), it hit its lowest ($29.8m) in Q2 2024.

The trend shows declines since 2013, with key fluctuations and a shift in investment priorities.

  • 2013-2015: FDI was mostly above $200 million per quarter, peaking at $769 million in Q4 2014.
  • 2016-2021: FDI mostly stayed under $400 million, with a $531 million spike in Q3 2018.
  • 2022-2024: FDI hit new lows, bottoming out at $48 million in Q1 2023 and falling even further to $29.8 million in Q2 2024 — the lowest in 46 quarters.

Source:

National Bureau of Statistics

Period:

Q1 2013-Q2 2024
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Cape Verde’s FDI averaged over $68M annually over 34 years, with a record $170M in 2008 and a recent 54% drop from 2023 to 2024
  • Cape Verde attracted no foreign direct investment during the early 1990s, signalling limited investor interest at the time.
  • FDI inflows skyrocketed from $130M in 2006 to an all-time high of $170M in 2008, before stabilising above $100M for most of the 2010s.
  • The country experienced large swings, ranging from a high of $150M (2014) to lows of $50M (2020).
  • Despite recovering to $130M in 2023, inflows dropped sharply to $60M in 2024, the weakest figure in over a decade.
Nigeria’s foreign trade
  • Total Trade Volume in Q1 2025 stood at ₦36.02 trillion, with exports totalling ₦20.6 trillion and imports at ₦15.4 trillion, resulting in a surplus of ₦5.17 trillion.
  • Crude oil dominates Nigeria’s export trade, accounting for the largest share of export revenue. -
  • Other petroleum oil products are also a major export item, reflecting the significance of both raw and refined oil-based commodities in Nigeria’s trade portfolio. -
  • On the import side, manufactured goods dominate, showing Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign machinery, technology, and consumer goods.
  • While Nigeria exports mostly raw and oil-based products, it imports refined, processed, or industrial goods, indicating a structural trade gap and limited local industrial capacity. -
  • Agricultural and raw material goods feature on both sides of trade, but their value is significantly less than petroleum-related trade.
Zambia’s FDI rebounded to $1.24B in 2024 after sharp decline in 2022, attracted over $22B since 1990
  • Zambia recorded its highest-ever FDI inflow in 2013 at $2.10 billion.
  • After dipping to a negative inflow of -$0.07 billion in 2022, Zambia recovered to $1.24 billion in 2024.
  • The country experienced its first billion-dollar inflow in 2007, marking a turning point in foreign investment.
  • FDI inflow was consistently below $0.5 billion throughout the 1990s, indicating limited investor confidence during that period.
Côte d'Ivoire’s FDI sees dramatic turn in 2024, jumping to $3.8B, over two times 2022 levels and its highest since 1990
  • Côte d'Ivoire attracted $3.80 billion in FDI in 2024, its highest annual inflow ever recorded, more than double 2022’s $1.6 billion.
  • Between 1990 and 2016, its FDI remained mostly below $1 billion annually, only beginning to surge from 2017 onwards.
  • The country crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2021, signalling increased investor confidence and macroeconomic improvements.
  • Over the last three years (2022–2024) alone, Côte d'Ivoire drew in $7.89 billion in FDI, accounting for over 40% of total inflow since 1990.
Ethiopia’s FDI inflows rose from $10M in the 1990s to $3.98B in 2024, with its sharpest growth phase recorded from 2014–2016
  • Ethiopia recorded a total of $46.43 billion in foreign direct investment between 1990 and 2024.
  • Its annual FDI inflows surged from just $10 million in 1990 to $3.98 billion in 2024, reflecting massive investor interest over time.
  • The country experienced three major FDI booms in 1997–2004, 2011–2014, and 2015–2016, driven by policy reforms and industrial expansion.
  • After a pandemic-era dip in 2020, Ethiopia rebounded strongly in 2021 with $4.26 billion in inflows, maintaining high investment momentum through 2024
Morocco hit its $3.5B FDI peak twice, in 2014 and 2018
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  • Morocco's FDI inflows peaked twice, in 2014 and 2018, both $3.5 billion.
  • The lowest FDI inflow Morocco recorded was in 1990, amounting to $0.17 billion.
  • From 2006 onward, Morocco's FDI inflows remained mostly above $1 billion, with fluctuations.
  • The most recent year, 2024, showed a modest recovery after a significant dip in 2023.
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