By Nana Musa
Abuja, Jan. 16, 2026 (NAN) Nigeria has achieved a serious worldwide milestone in its marketing campaign in opposition to cash laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
This adopted its removing from the European Union’s (EU) record of high-risk third nations below the EU Anti-Cash Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.
The delisting is contained within the European Fee Delegated Regulation (EU) C (2025) 8460, adopted on Dec. 4, 2025, in keeping with updates issued by the Monetary Motion Job Power (FATF) at its October 2025 Plenary.
That is contained in assertion by the Chief Government Officer(CEO), Nigerian Monetary Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Hafsat Bakari, in Abuja on Friday.
She mentioned the regulation could be efficient from Jan. 29, and in addition confirmed the removing of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania from the EU high-risk record, following their profitable exit from the FATF record of jurisdictions below elevated monitoring.
In line with her, the European Fee delisted nations, together with Nigeria, had strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regimes, closed crucial technical and operational gaps and fulfilled commitments below their FATF Motion Plans.
Bakari mentioned that the reforms led to their removing from the FATF gray record in June and October 2025.
In line with her, Nigeria’s removing from the EU record displays what stakeholders described as sturdy political will and management below President Bola Tinubu, whose administration, prioritised monetary system integrity, inter-agency coordination and compliance with worldwide requirements.
Bakari mentioned the achievement additionally adopted sustained collaboration amongst key stakeholders, together with the Nationwide Meeting, legislation enforcement businesses, regulators and supervisors, the judiciary, the non-public sector and improvement companions.
The CEO additionally described the choice as a big affirmation of Nigeria’s reform efforts.
“This resolution represents an vital exterior validation of Nigeria’s regular progress in strengthening its AML/CFT/CPF framework.
“It demonstrates that constant reforms, efficient coordination and robust nationwide possession can translate into tangible worldwide outcomes,” Bakari mentioned.
She mentioned that Nigeria’s removing from the EU high-risk record means monetary transactions between Nigeria and the EU would not be topic to enhanced due diligence measures related to high-risk jurisdictions.
In line with her, the event is predicted to ease compliance burdens, assist smoother cross-border monetary flows and improve Nigeria’s attractiveness for commerce, funding and monetary partnerships with EU member states.
Bakari mentioned that in an more and more aggressive international commerce surroundings, the delisting additional strengthened Nigeria’s place as a dependable financial accomplice, reinforcing Europe’s function as a key vacation spot for Nigerian exports and a serious supply of investments and monetary providers.
“Past the quick financial advantages, this consequence strengthens worldwide confidence in Nigeria’s monetary system and underscores our standing as a cooperative and accountable participant within the international monetary structure.”
She mentioned NFIU unit’s function remained coordinating nationwide AML/CFT/CPF efforts, enhancing high quality and use of economic intelligence, and supporting supervisory, investigative and prosecutorial authorities nationwide.
Bakari cautioned that the achievement positioned a duty on all stakeholders to maintain momentum, guard in opposition to complacency and proceed strengthening programs in response to evolving monetary crime dangers.
The CEO reiterated NFIU’s dedication to continued engagement with the FATF, the Inter-Governmental Motion Group in opposition to Cash Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the EU and different worldwide companions.
She mentioned the company would additionally proceed to work intently with home stakeholders to make sure that Nigeria not solely maintained compliance however deepened the effectiveness and resilience of its AML/CFT/CPF framework.
In a separate assertion, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Financial system, Mr Wale Edun counseled the EU for delisting the nation from the high-risk third nations, as a lift to monetary credibility and investor confidence.
He described it as a serious vote of confidence to the nation’s ongoing financial and monetary reforms.
The minister mentioned the milestone was achieved by way of the “extraordinary management, unwavering political will and clear reform imaginative and prescient” of President Bola Tinubu.
In line with Edun, the Tinubu administration prioritised AML/CFT reforms as a core pillar of Nigeria’s financial governance and monetary system stability agenda.
He mentioned the President’s decisive management ensured sturdy inter-agency coordination, sustained engagement with worldwide companions and the complete implementation of key authorized, regulatory and institutional reforms wanted to handle strategic deficiencies earlier recognized in Nigeria’s AML/CFT framework.
The minister counseled the collective efforts of stakeholders concerned in attaining the milestone, together with monetary sector regulators, legislation enforcement businesses, the NFIU, supervisory authorities, the judiciary and personal sector operators.
He mentioned their professionalism, collaboration and dedication had been instrumental to the profitable completion of Nigeria’s FATF Motion Plan and the next worldwide recognition.
Edun reiterated the nation’s dedication to sustaining and deepening AML/CFT reforms.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN), stories that NFIU is Nigeria’s nationwide centre for the receipt, evaluation and dissemination of economic intelligence associated to cash laundering, terrorist financing and associated offences.
It’s a member of the Egmont Group of Monetary Intelligence Models and works with home and worldwide companions to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s monetary system. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chioma Ugboma
