By Muhammad Mamman
Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list reflects Nigeria’s clear policy direction and growing financial integrity.
On Friday, FATF announced Nigeria’s delisting from its register of countries with weaknesses in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
In a statement issued after the announcement, Cardoso described the move as a strong endorsement of Nigeria’s reform efforts and the increasing credibility of its financial system.
“It reflects a clear policy direction and the coordinated efforts of key national institutions working together to deliver sustainable, standards-based reforms,” he said.
Cardoso added that the focus now is to consolidate these gains, ensuring that compliance, innovation and trust advance together to strengthen financial stability and global confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
Nigeria joins South Africa, Mozambique and Burkina Faso as the latest African countries to achieve this milestone — a sign of wider progress across the continent.
The CBN reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with domestic and international partners to maintain a transparent and trusted financial system that supports stability, integrity and inclusive economic growth.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria’s removal from the grey list marks a new phase in the nation’s financial reform agenda.
