Nigeria has been formally removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT).
The European Commission’s update takes effect on 29 January 2026.
Under the revised list contained in European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) C (2025) 8460, Nigeria was delisted alongside five other African countries — South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania — following sustained reforms to strengthen national AML/CFT frameworks.
The delisting decision reflects progress in closing technical and strategic gaps previously identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and follows Nigeria’s successful exit from the FATF’s grey list in October 2025.
According to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the European Commission acknowledged that improvements made by Nigeria and its peers aligned their financial systems with international standards set by the FATF.
Reacting to the delisting, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, said the development marked a significant victory for the country.
In a post on X on Thursday, she wrote: “Big win for Nigeria! Removed from EU’s financial ‘high-risk’ list! Congrats to President @officialABAT on this achievement. As Minister of State for Finance, I’m proud of this boost to trade and investor confidence.”
The Federal Government also welcomed the move, with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, attributing the achievement to strong political will and reform leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The government said the decision will help improve correspondent banking relationships, reduce compliance burdens and reinforce Nigeria’s integration into the global financial system.
Before the delisting, Nigeria’s inclusion on the EU list meant that transactions with European partners were subject to enhanced due diligence, stricter documentation and additional oversight.
These measures often slowed cross-border trade and complicated investment flows for Nigerian businesses and financial institutions.
With the removal from the high-risk designation, these enhanced requirements will no longer apply, paving the way for smoother financial transactions, reduced compliance costs and improved access to European markets.
The NFIU Chief Executive Officer, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, described the delisting as “an important external validation of Nigeria’s steady progress in strengthening its AML/CFT/CPF framework,” noting that the outcome further strengthens international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
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