The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has commended Nigeria’s anti-corruption and financial integrity institutions for securing the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List of countries under increased monitoring.
In a press statement issued Sunday , October, 26th, 2025 the Executive Secretary, NEITI Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, described the development as “a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s reforms to combat corruption, improve financial transparency, and strengthen accountability systems across all sectors of the economy.”
Dr. Orji explained that the delisting follows demonstrable improvements in the effectiveness of Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) framework, enhanced regulatory oversight, and sustained collaboration among key national stakeholders.
The NEITI’s executive secretary, highlighted the value of existing Memoranda of Understanding between NEITI and the EFCC, NFIU, and ICPC as effective platforms for information and data sharing to track money laundering, illicit financial flows.
Orji Ogbonnaya Orji further acknowledged the excellent work of 24 member agencies under the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) chaired by NEITI, and supported by the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), adding that strong political will and a policy of non-interference by the Federal Government were instrumental to the achievement.
Dr. Orji also commended the media and civil society for their vigilance, advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and “naming and shaming” efforts which strengthened public accountability and deterrence.
On the key benefits of Nigeria’s FATF Delisting, the NEITI Executive Secretary outlined the far-reaching positive implications of the delisting on Nigeria’s economy, governance, and investment climate, including:
Boost to international credibility and investor confidence:
“Nigeria’s exit sends a clear signal that our financial system is increasingly compliant with global transparency and integrity standards, making the country more attractive for foreign investment and international partnerships,” Dr. Orji stated.
In similar vein spaces for change a leading civil society advocacy group against corruption in Nigeria has also applauded the federal government of Nigeria over the latest development which sees the country exit the financial action task force.
In a press statement released Saturday, October 25th, 2025 and signed by executive director, of the civil society advocacy group, Victorial ibezim-ohaeri noted that the latest development is a clear indication of Nigeria’s drive towards transparency and accountability. “Delisting from the FATF grey list means that these countries including Nigeria have successfully addressed the identified deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism frameworks and improved the integrity of their systems within the agreed timeframes” the press statement noted.
The press statement from spaces for change also noted that prior to Nigeria’s and burkina faso’s exit, spaces for change has been in the fore front of working in the two countries to ensure the effective implementation of FATF recommendations, particularly as it relates to the non profit sector.
“Over the years, spaces for change’s advocacy focused on providing capacity building support to non profit organisations, key agencies and regulators conducting national terrorism financing risks assessments, thereby strengthening their implementations of the FATF recommendations”.
