Capital importation into Nigeria has fallen to a new low of $654.65m in the third quarter of 2023, indicating a slow of new foreign investments into the country.

This is according to new data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

In its โ€˜Nigeria Capital Importation (Q3, 2023), the statistics body noted that investments into the country fell by 36.45 per cent to $654.65m in Q3, 2023 from $1,030.21m in Q2 2023.

It said, โ€œIn Q3 2023, total capital importation into Nigeria stood at $654.65m, lower than $1,159.67m recorded in Q3 2022, indicating a decline of 43.55 per cent. In comparison to the preceding quarter, capital importation fell by 36.45 per cent from $1,030.21m in Q2 2023.โ€

In the period being reported, Nigeria was only able to attract Foreign Direct Investments of $59.77m, portfolio investment of $87.11m, and other investments of $507.77m.

Commenting on the sectors responsible for attracting capital importation, the NBS added, โ€œThe production/manufacturing sector recorded the highest inflow with $279.51m, representing 42.70 per cent of total capital imported in Q3 2023, followed by the financing sector, valued at $127.93m (19.54 per cent), and Shares with $85.49m (13.06 per cent).โ€

So far this is the lowest recorded capital importation into the country according to available data from Q3, 2013. Before now, the lowest was the $710.97m recorded in Q1, 2016.