The European Commission has removed Nigeria from its list of high-risk jurisdictions on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The delisting, contained in an updated list of high-risk jurisdictions, follows decisions taken at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenaries of June and October 2025.
The EU regulation takes effect from January 29, 2026.
The European Commission also confirmed the removal of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania from the EU high-risk list after their successful exit from the FATF list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring.
It acknowledged that Nigeria and the other delisted countries have strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regimes, closed key technical and operational gaps, and fulfilled the commitments set out in their FATF action plans.
The Commission is mandated to identify high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in their regimes on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. Entities covered by the AML framework are required to apply enhanced vigilance in transactions involving listed countries to protect the integrity of the EU financial system.
The delisted countries demonstrated sufficient progress in addressing AML/CFT deficiencies and implementing agreed action plans. Their removal means that automatic country-based enhanced due diligence under Article 9 of AMLD IV no longer applies.
However, institutions must continue to apply risk-based measures where justified by customer, product or transaction risk, the Commission said.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the development as a big win for the country.
“Removed from the EU’s financial ‘high-risk’ list. Congratulations to President @officialABAT on this achievement. As Minister of State for Finance, I’m proud of this boost to trade and investor confidence,” she wrote on X.
In a statement on Friday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakari, described the decision as a significant 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,” Bakari said.
Nigeria’s removal from the EU high-risk list means financial transactions between Nigeria and the European Union will no longer be subject to enhanced due diligence requirements associated with high-risk jurisdictions.
This is expected to ease compliance burdens, support smoother cross-border financial flows and enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness for trade, investment and financial partnerships with EU member states.
In an increasingly competitive global trade environment, the delisting will strengthen Nigeria’s positioning as a reliable economic partner, reinforcing Europe’s role as a key destination for Nigerian exports and a source of investment and financial services.
“Beyond the immediate economic benefits, this outcome strengthens international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system and underscores our standing as a cooperative and responsible participant in the global financial architecture,” Bakari said.
She highlighted the role of the NFIU in coordinating national AML/CFT/CPF efforts, enhancing the quality and use of financial intelligence, and supporting supervisory, investigative and prosecutorial authorities across the country.
“This achievement is the product of collective national effort. While we welcome this progress, it also places a clear responsibility on all stakeholders to sustain momentum, guard against complacency and continue strengthening our systems in response to evolving financial crime risks,” she added.
“The achievement is also the result of sustained collaboration among key stakeholders, including the National Assembly, law enforcement agencies, regulators, supervisors, the judiciary, the private sector and development partners.”
The NFIU reaffirmed its commitment to continuous engagement with the FATF, GIABA, the European Union and other international partners, and to working closely with domestic stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria not only maintains compliance but continues to deepen the effectiveness and resilience of its AML/CFT/CPF framework.