The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has announced that Nigeria has been officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, following the October 2025 Plenary held in Paris, France.
The move marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems.
Nigeria was placed on the grey list in February 2023 due to identified gaps in its AML/CFT framework. However, after two years of sustained effort, Nigeria met all requirements in a 19-point Action Plan developed with FATF and GIABA.
“Nigeria’s ambition was never limited to simply completing the Action Plan and exiting the grey list. Our focus has been on driving reforms, enacting legislative enhancements and strengthening institutions,” said the Honourable Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), confirmed that Nigeria has now been invited to join FATF’s Guest Jurisdictions Initiative, allowing the country to contribute directly to global AML/CFT policy discussions.
The NFIU Director/CEO, Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, described the achievement as “a true test of resilience and national coordination,” adding that the reform journey “is only the beginning of a stronger, more transparent financial ecosystem.”
She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the Vice-President, and key government institutions for their commitment to financial reform.
The FATF also delisted Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and South Africa, in what was described as a significant step for financial governance on the African continent.
