By Ayomide Otitoju
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. The decision, contained in the European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) C (2025) 8460 adopted on December 4, 2025, comes in line with updates by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) following its October 2025 plenary.
The delisting, effective January 29, 2026, also applies to Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania, following their successful exit from the FATF list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring after addressing strategic AML/CFT deficiencies.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the European Commission recognised that Nigeria and the other delisted countries had strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regimes, closed key operational and technical gaps, and fulfilled FATF Action Plan commitments, leading to their removal from the FATF grey list in June and October 2025.
Nigeria’s removal from the EU list was credited to the “strong political will and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the NFIU said, highlighting the administration’s focus on financial system integrity, inter-agency coordination, and compliance with international standards. The achievement also reflects sustained collaboration among the National Assembly, law enforcement agencies, regulators, the judiciary, the private sector, and development partners.
Reacting to the development, NFIU Chief Executive Officer Hafsat Bakari described the decision as a “significant affirmation of Nigeria’s collective reform efforts.” She noted that the delisting represents an “important external validation of Nigeria’s steady progress in strengthening its AML/CFT/CPF framework” and demonstrates how coordinated reforms and national ownership can yield tangible international outcomes.
With the removal, financial transactions between Nigeria and the EU will no longer be subject to the enhanced due diligence measures typically applied to high-risk jurisdictions. The move is expected to ease compliance burdens, facilitate smoother cross-border financial flows, and enhance Nigeria’s appeal for trade, investment, and financial partnerships with EU member states.
Bakari added that beyond economic benefits, the delisting “strengthens international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system and underscores our standing as a cooperative and responsible participant in the global financial architecture.” She highlighted the NFIU’s role in coordinating national AML/CFT/CPF efforts, supporting investigative and prosecutorial authorities, and enhancing the use of financial intelligence.
“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 said.
The NFIU reaffirmed its commitment to continuous engagement with the FATF, GIABA, the EU, and other international partners, while working with domestic stakeholders to ensure Nigeria maintains compliance and continues to deepen the effectiveness and resilience of its AML/CFT/CPF framework.
