NFIU Celebrates Nigeria’s Removal from EU High-Risk Financial List — A Milestone for Financial Integrity and Investment Confidence

Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has welcomed a major global endorsement of Nigeria’s progress in combating illicit finance, as the European Union (EU) has officially removed the country from its high-risk third countries list under anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards. This follows Nigeria’s earlier exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the nation’s financial system and global credibility.

NFIU Attributes Milestone to Coordinated Reforms and Inter-Agency Collaboration

In a statement issued by NFIU Chief Executive Officer Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, the EU’s decision to delist Nigeria from the high-risk third countries register reflects the effectiveness of sustained reforms across Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework governing anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CTF) and counter-proliferation financing (CPF). These reforms were validated not only by FATF’s removal of Nigeria from the Grey List in October 2025, but also by the EU’s updated AML/CFT regime taking effect from January 29, 2026.

“While the NFIU has been at the forefront of ensuring compliance with international AML/CFT/CPF standards, these achievements reflect a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort to build strong barriers to illicit finance,” Ms. Bakari said, underscoring the collaborative work of regulatory authorities, financial institutions, law enforcement, and global partners.

Why This Matters for Nigeria’s Financial System and Economy

Boosting Financial Integrity:
The removal from the EU’s high-risk list signals restored international confidence in Nigeria’s financial oversight, with clear implications for cross-border transactions, correspondent banking relationships, and investor assurance.

Facilitating Foreign Investment:
Improved global rankings on financial integrity indices can attract greater foreign direct investment (FDI) and deepen Nigeria’s participation in international markets, especially in sectors tied to trade, finance, and digital payments.

Strengthened Anti-Graft Framework:
This development also reflects progress under Nigeria’s AML/CFT policies — including enhanced reporting from financial institutions, more effective intelligence analysis, and tighter enforcement — which are central to safeguarding the economy against money laundering and terror financing.

NFIU’s continued leadership in financial intelligence underscores its role not just as a regulatory watchdog, but as a strategic enabler of Nigeria’s economic credibility and financial inclusion agenda — key priorities for national policymakers and global partners alike.