The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has welcomed Nigeria’s removal from the European Union’s list of high-risk third countries, describing it as a strong validation of the country’s financial integrity reforms implemented since 2023.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the NFIU said the development followed Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List in October 2025, as well as the European Union’s decision to delist the country in January 2026.
According to the agency, the decisions by the FATF and the EU reflect the success of a coordinated national effort to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and counter-proliferation financing frameworks.
Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, said the delisting demonstrated the credibility and sustainability of Nigeria’s reforms, as well as the effectiveness of consistent implementation across government institutions.
She noted that the milestone underscored Nigeria’s commitment to global standards on financial integrity while reinforcing international confidence in the country’s financial system.
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Bakari explained that the reforms were carried out under the guidance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and supported by strategic leadership from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Interior, and the Minister of State for Finance, through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on AML/CFT/CPF.
She added that the contributions of other ministries, security agencies, regulators and law enforcement bodies helped strengthen supervision of both financial and non-financial sectors, improve corporate transparency, and enhance investigations and prosecutions related to illicit financial activities.
According to her, significant progress was also recorded in prosecutorial outcomes and international cooperation, particularly through the Federal Ministry of Justice, which played a key role in securing convictions, facilitating mutual legal assistance, and enabling the recovery and repatriation of illicit assets.
Bakari further commended the judiciary, especially the Federal High Court, for timely adjudication and the imposition of proportionate sanctions that serve as effective deterrents against financial crimes.
She disclosed that Nigeria is now consolidating the gains achieved and has begun preparations for its next AML/CFT/CPF Mutual Evaluation, reaffirming the country’s commitment to sustained collaboration and the protection of its financial system.
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