Spaces for Change (S4C), a leading civic advocacy and policy research organization, has congratulated the Federal Republic of Nigeria on its official removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, a major milestone in the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts.
The announcement was made during the FATF plenary session held in Paris, France, in October 2025, where Nigeria, alongside Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Mozambique, was delisted after successfully meeting global compliance standards.
Exiting the FATF grey list signifies that Nigeria has effectively addressed identified deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks. The FATF’s International Cooperative Review Group (ICRG) confirmed that the country strengthened its financial systems and achieved compliance within the agreed timelines.
This development enhances Nigeria’s international financial reputation, improves investor confidence, and opens the door to increased foreign investments and smoother global transactions.
In a statement signed by Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Executive Director of Spaces for Change, the organization highlighted its extensive contribution to Nigeria’s FATF compliance journey.
“Prior to Nigeria and Burkina Faso’s exit, Spaces for Change had been working in both countries to ensure the effective implementation of FATF Recommendations, particularly those relating to the non-profit sector,” said Ibezim-Ohaeri.
Providing capacity-building support to non-profit organizations, regulators, and key government agencies.
Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and technical workshops to strengthen national AML/CFT responses.
Supporting the implementation of FATF Recommendation 8, which focuses on preventing the misuse of the non-profit sector for terrorism financing.
In 2022, Nigeria undertook key reforms, removing non-profits from the list of obliged reporting entities and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) aligning national frameworks with global best practices.
Spaces for Change commended Nigeria for becoming the only West African nation to achieve a “Fully-Compliant” rating on FATF Recommendation 8, a remarkable achievement that underscores the country’s improved technical compliance and operational effectiveness.
“Nigeria’s delisting from the FATF grey list reinforces its commitment to combating money laundering, ensuring financial transparency, and safeguarding civic freedoms,” Ibezim-Ohaeri added.
Spaces for Change also extended its congratulations to Burkina Faso for achieving the same milestone, describing the progress as a collective victory for West Africa’s financial integrity and governance systems.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that counter-terrorism and anti-money laundering measures across the region are implemented without undermining civil society operations or civic freedoms.
“This milestone will translate into a less restrictive environment for charities, non-profits, and investors,” S4C stated. “We will continue to work with governments and institutions to promote policies that balance security objectives with human rights and civic participation.”
The FATF grey list identifies countries with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT frameworks that are actively working with FATF to address them. Removal from the list indicates that a country has met FATF’s standards and no longer requires increased monitoring.