Nigeria tracked about $50 billion in major investment commitments arising from President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trips as of the end of 2024, with over $13 billion or 25 per cent, now moving into full or partial disbursement or implementation, the Federal Government has said.

Capital importation also rose from approximately $4 billion in 2023 to $12 billion in 2024 and $23 billion in 2025, while Nigeria attracted a further $10 billion in Q1 2026.

Much of the recovery, however, was led by portfolio investment, with the government seeking more capital for factories, infrastructure, processing capacity and businesses capable of growing, employing people and exporting.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, who represented Tinubu at the 2026 Invest Nigeria Conference and Expo in Lagos, said the government was beginning to see investment commitments move into implementation.

According to her, Indorama, which has already deployed approximately $2 billion in Nigeria, recently announced a further $3 billion investment in its petrochemical and fertiliser operations as it works towards an $8 billion investment ambition in the country.

Oduwole said the wider investment pipeline included major projects in power, transport, creative industries and technology. At the same time, the ministry would continue to track the deployment and economic impact of the capital.

The expected impact, she said, included new productive capacity, stronger supply chains, quality jobs and exports.
However, Division Director, West Africa, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Olivier Buyoya, said converting Nigeria’s investment potential into investable opportunities, business growth and jobs remained a major challenge.

He said investors were becoming more selective globally, with greater emphasis on macroeconomic stability, policy predictability, stronger institutions and credible prospects for long-term returns.

According to him, Nigeria needed to provide confidence that businesses could plan, policies would remain predictable, contracts would be respected and investments could generate sustainable returns.

He also identified infrastructure as a major area requiring investment, citing the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan’s estimate of a $100 billion infrastructure gap.

He said stronger infrastructure, including reliable energy, transport, logistics and digital connectivity, would improve the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and help to attract additional private capital.

President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Leye Kupoluyi, said Nigeria needed to move beyond its long-standing narrative of investment potential and focus on converting opportunities into bankable investments, productive enterprises, jobs, exports and sustainable economic value.

He said investors assess destinations based on policy predictability, infrastructure, taxation, access to foreign exchange, security, regulatory efficiency, market access, human capital and ease of doing business.