Nigeria has achieved a major international breakthrough in its fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, following its official removal from the European Union’s 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, aligns with the outcomes of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) October 2025 Plenary and takes effect from January 29, 2026.
The regulation also confirms the delisting of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania, after the countries successfully addressed strategic AML/CFT deficiencies and exited the FATF list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring.
According to the European Commission, Nigeria and the other delisted countries significantly strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regimes, closed critical technical and operational gaps, and fully implemented commitments contained in their FATF Action Plans. These reforms led to Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list in June and October 2025.
Analysts say Nigeria’s exit from the EU high-risk list marks a strong vote of confidence in the country’s financial governance reforms and reflects the political will and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose administration prioritised financial system integrity, inter-agency coordination and strict adherence to international compliance standards.
The milestone was achieved through sustained collaboration among the National Assembly, law enforcement and regulatory agencies, supervisors, the judiciary, the private sector and international development partners.
Reacting to the development, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, described the EU decision as a powerful 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 European Union member states will no longer be subject to enhanced due diligence requirements reserved for high-risk jurisdictions. This is expected to reduce compliance costs, ease cross-border transactions and significantly enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness for trade, investment and financial partnerships with Europe.
In a highly competitive global economic environment, the delisting further strengthens Nigeria’s positioning as a credible and reliable economic partner, reinforcing the EU’s role as a key destination for Nigerian exports and a major source of foreign investment and financial services.
Beyond the immediate economic gains, the NFIU CEO noted that the development deepens international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system and reinforces the country’s standing as a responsible and cooperative player in the global financial architecture.
She highlighted the central role of the NFIU in coordinating national AML/CFT/CPF efforts, improving the quality and use of financial intelligence, and supporting supervisory, investigative and prosecutorial authorities nationwide.
“This achievement is the product of a collective national effort. While we welcome this progress, it also places a responsibility on all stakeholders to sustain momentum, avoid complacency and continue strengthening our systems in response to evolving financial crime risks,” she added.
The NFIU reaffirmed its commitment to continuous engagement with the FATF, GIABA, the European Union and other international partners, while working closely with domestic stakeholders to deepen the effectiveness and resilience of Nigeria’s AML/CFT/CPF framework.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit is the national centre for the receipt, analysis and dissemination of financial intelligence related to money laundering, terrorist financing and related predicate offences. It is a member of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units and works with domestic and international partners to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
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