By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the removal of Nigeria from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, describing it as a milestone in the country’s economic reform and global credibility drive.
The FATF announced Nigeria’s delisting on Friday at its plenary in Paris, France, after the country successfully completed its action plan and met all compliance benchmarks for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the development followed over two years of sustained reforms and inter-agency coordination to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism framework.
He commended the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), led by Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, for its role in implementing key reforms that restored international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system. The President also acknowledged support from various ministries, agencies, and international partners including the governments of France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission.
According to the statement, President Tinubu said Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list “is not just a technical accomplishment but a strategic victory for our economy and a renewed vote of confidence in our financial governance.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms, deepening transparency, and building a financial system that both Nigerians and the global community can trust.
