Nigeria has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering and terrorism financing. The European Commission announced the decision, which also delisted South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania, while adding Bolivia and the British Virgin Islands to the list.
This development follows Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist in 2025, after implementing significant reforms in anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) frameworks. The removal is expected to ease cross-border transactions, reduce compliance costs for businesses, and improve investor confidence.
As a result of the delisting, enhanced due diligence requirements previously applied to transactions involving Nigeria will be lifted from January 29, 2026, subject to procedural approval by the European Parliament and the Council. EU entities are required to apply heightened scrutiny to transactions involving countries designated as high-risk, but with Nigeria’s delisting, such enhanced vigilance will no longer apply to Nigerian-related transactions within the EU.
The European Commission stated that the update reflects decisions taken by the FATF at its June and October 2025 plenaries, where several countries were removed from the list of “Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring.” The delisting is also expected to strengthen Nigeria’s attractiveness to foreign investors who had previously been cautious due to reputational and compliance risks linked to the high-risk designation.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, welcomed the development, describing it as a major win for the country. The delisting is seen as a significant achievement, and the government is expected to build on this momentum to further improve the country’s business environment and attract foreign investment.
The removal of Nigeria from the EU’s high-risk list is a positive development for the country’s economy and is expected to have a positive impact on trade and investment. The government’s efforts to strengthen its AML and CTF frameworks have paid off, and the country is now better positioned to attract foreign investment and participate in global trade. The delisting is also a testament to the country’s commitment to combating money laundering and terrorism financing, and its determination to maintain a stable and secure financial system.
