Nigeria has officially been removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk third countries for money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, effective January 29, 2026. This decision comes after Nigeria’s successful exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) hails this achievement as a validation of the country’s financial integrity reforms implemented since 2023. According to NFIU CEO Hafsat Bakari, the removal reflects Nigeria’s commitment to upholding global standards on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing.
Nigeria’s removal from the EU high-risk list is expected to ease compliance burdens, improve trade and investment, enhance investor confidence, and reduce transaction costs. Financial transactions between Nigeria and EU member states will no longer be subject to enhanced due diligence requirements, and the country’s attractiveness for trade, investment, and financial partnerships with EU member states is expected to increase. The NFIU credits the achievement to the collective efforts of government agencies, law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector, under the guidance of President Bola Tinubu. The agency reaffirms its commitment to continued collaboration and strengthening Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks 🚀.
