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Foreign Investment

Entry structuring, registrations and permits, foreign exchange documentation and investor protection for foreign investors in Nigeria.

Overview

Most sectors of the Nigerian economy are open to full foreign ownership, but investors need the right structure and registrations to operate and to move money in and out. We guide foreign investors through each step.

We advise on entry structures, incorporation, registration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, business permits and expatriate quotas, and on sector-specific licences and local content rules. We also advise on Certificates of Capital Importation and the repatriation of dividends, interest and capital.

For investors with established operations we advise on double taxation treaties, investment protection under bilateral investment treaties, and the resolution of disputes with counterparties or government bodies.

What we do

  • Incorporation and Organizational Structuring

    Assisting foreign investors in the incorporation and structuring of legal entities and vehicles to facilitate their investments in the host country.

  • Ownership and Control Restrictions

    Advising on restrictions imposed by local laws and regulations regarding foreign ownership and control of businesses, and providing strategies to navigate and mitigate these restrictions.

  • Exemptions and Regulatory Compliance

    Assisting clients in obtaining exemptions from foreign investment restrictions and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

  • Corporate, Tax, and Regulatory Structuring

    Developing tailored corporate, tax, and regulatory structures to optimize foreign investments and mitigate risks.

  • Permits and Licensing

    Assisting clients in obtaining necessary permits, licenses, and approvals required for foreign investment projects, and guiding them through the regulatory approval process.

  • Investment Treaty Protection

    Advising on investment treaties and bilateral investment agreements to protect foreign investors' interests and rights against unfair treatment by host governments.

  • Tax Treaty Protection

    Providing guidance on tax treaties between the home country and the host country to minimize tax liabilities and optimize the tax efficiency of foreign investments.

  • Immigration Regulation

    Assisting foreign investors and their employees with immigration matters, including work permits, visas, and residency requirements.

FAQs

Yes, in most sectors. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act allows full foreign ownership except in a short list of prohibited areas, although some sectors, such as oil and gas, aviation and broadcasting, have their own ownership or local content rules.

A certificate issued by the receiving bank when foreign capital is brought into Nigeria. It is the investor’s evidence of the inflow and allows dividends, interest and capital to be repatriated through the official foreign exchange market.

Yes. A company employing foreign staff needs a business permit and an expatriate quota from the Federal Ministry of Interior, and each employee needs the appropriate visa and residence permit.
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