Marking a major boost to the country’s financial and investment standing, the European Union (EU) has officially removed Nigeria from its list of high-risk third countries under the EU Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) said the decision is contained in the European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) C (2025) 8460, adopted on December 4, 2025, in line with updates by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) following its October 2025 Plenary.
The regulation takes effect on January 29, 2026, and also confirms the delisting of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania, as the countries have addressed key strategic AML/CFT deficiencies and exited the FATF’s list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring.
“The European Commission acknowledged that Nigeria and the other delisted countries have strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regimes, closed key technical and operational gaps, and fulfilled the commitments set out in their FATF Action Plans, leading to their removal from the FATF grey list in June and October 2025.
“Nigeria’s removal from the EU list reflects the strong political will and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose administration prioritised financial system integrity, inter-agency coordination, and compliance with international standards.
“The achievement is also the result of sustained collaboration among key stakeholders, including the National Assembly, law enforcement agencies, regulators, supervisors, the judiciary, the private sector, and development partners,” the statement read in part.
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‘Nigeria’s Steady Progress’
Reacting to the development, Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, described the decision as a significant affirmation of Nigeria’s collective reform efforts.
“This decision represents an important external validation of Nigeria’s steady progress in strengthening its AML/CFT/CPF framework. It demonstrates that consistent reforms, effective coordination, and strong national ownership can translate into tangible international outcomes,” she said.
Nigeria’s removal from the EU high-risk list means that financial transactions between Nigeria and EU member states will no longer be subject to enhanced due-diligence requirements applied to high-risk jurisdictions.
The development is expected to ease compliance burdens, support smoother cross-border financial flows, and improve Nigeria’s attractiveness for trade, investment, and financial partnerships across Europe.
Confidence Boost
Beyond immediate economic benefits, Bakari said the decision reinforces confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
“Beyond the immediate economic benefits, this outcome strengthens international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system and underscores our standing as a cooperative and responsible participant in the global financial architecture,” she noted.
She also highlighted the NFIU’s role in coordinating national AML/CFT/CPF efforts and supporting supervisory, investigative, and prosecutorial authorities.
“This achievement is the product of collective national effort. While we welcome this progress, it also places a clear responsibility on all stakeholders to sustain momentum, guard against complacency, and continue strengthening our systems in response to evolving financial crime risks,” Bakari added.
The NFIU reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement with the FATF, GIABA, the European Union, and other international partners to maintain compliance and strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s AML/CFT/CPF framework.
