Muhammad Basheer HotoroNigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List is a development worth paying attention to. It might not sound exciting to the average citizen, but for anyone who follows economic reform or investor confidence, it’s a big deal. This moment says something about where the country stands and where it could be heading, especially if we manage to build on it rather than let it fade like many other wins.
For context, the FATF Grey List includes countries placed under increased monitoring” because of weaknesses in their systems for fighting money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Being on that list is not just a technical matter. It affects how other countries, banks, and investors view us. It increases scrutiny on international transactions, discourages foreign investors, and makes it harder for Nigerian banks to operate freely with their global counterparts.
When Nigeria was grey-listed in 2023, it was a worrying sign. It placed us alongside nations with deep financial governance problems. But this month, FATF officially announced that Nigeria, along with South Africa, has been removed after showing significant progress. The country improved its regulatory oversight, strengthened coordination among key agencies, and began recording visible results in the fight against illicit financial flows.
For many Nigerians, this might feel distant from the daily struggle with inflation, insecurity, and unemployment. But in the world of finance, perception matters. This delisting signals that Nigeria is becoming a safer and more credible place to do business. That shift, if sustained, can make a real difference.
Investor confidence is often described as the unseen lifeblood of a modern economy. When it fades, even the best policies can stall. Being on the grey list created a cloud of uncertainty around Nigeria. Foreign investors saw us as a higher-risk environment, while international banks were forced to carry out extra checks on Nigerian transactions. All of this made business slower and more expensive.
Now that we are off the list, that cloud begins to lift. The decision tells the world that Nigeria is reforming and serious about financial integrity. It could help strengthen investor confidence, encourage foreign direct investment, and even make borrowing cheaper. When a country looks less risky on paper, the cost of credit naturally drops. It could also ease the flow of diaspora remittances and trade payments, which often get caught in the web of global compliance checks.
For a government trying to stabilize the economy and attract foreign capital, this is welcome news. Nigeria is already planning to raise funds through a $500 million global sukuk and other international borrowing arrangements. A better international reputation helps those efforts.
Still, it’s important to be realistic. Getting off the grey list doesn’t mean Nigeria’s economic troubles are over. Inflation remains high, the naira is still unstable, and unemployment among young people is deeply concerning. The real challenge is whether this progress can be sustained and translated into tangible improvements for ordinary Nigerians.
The fight against financial crime is ongoing. Our economy remains heavily informal, with millions of cash transactions happening every day outside regulated systems. That makes it easier for illicit money to circulate and harder for the state to collect revenue. Unless the government continues to expand financial inclusion and bring more people into the formal system, these weaknesses will remain.
Institutions also need to keep working consistently. It’s one thing to pass international assessments, but it’s another to maintain the same standards year after year. Nigeria’s problem has never been the lack of policies; it’s been the lack of continuity. Reform must outlive political cycles and personalities if it is to truly transform the system.
Despite these cautions, this is a moment worth recognizing. Nigeria has spent decades under a cloud of negative headlines — corruption, insecurity, and economic instability. This development gives us a chance to change that narrative, even slightly. It’s a moment to show that reform can work when it is taken seriously. In global finance, perception drives reality. Investors move capital not only based on what is happening, but also on what they believe could happen. If Nigeria can use this as a foundation for broader reforms, it could help reposition the country as a credible, reform-minded economy that can be trusted again.
To make that happen, communication and follow-through are key. The next budget should reflect transparency and discipline. The Central Bank of Nigeria must keep pushing for clarity in monetary policy. And the private sector must strengthen its compliance culture. This is not just about avoiding sanctions but about building trust and credibility that attracts serious partners.
This achievement also has meaning beyond Nigeria. Africa often struggles with the perception of weak institutions and opaque financial systems. Seeing both Nigeria and South Africa removed from the FATF grey list in the same review cycle sends a strong message. It shows that African countries can reform and meet global standards when there is political will.
For regional bodies like the African Union, ECOWAS, and the African Development Bank, this is a good time to push for stronger cooperation on cross-border financial regulation. Shared systems and information can help track illicit financial flows that cost the continent billions every year.
A close friend of mine who is an economist once said that “countries don’t grow because they pass reforms; they grow because they sustain them.” That statement fits perfectly here. The real test for Nigeria is whether we can turn compliance into competitiveness. Can we build a financial system where transparency becomes an advantage rather than an obligation?
That will require genuine institutional reform. Procurement systems need to be more open. Law enforcement must pursue financial crimes without fear or favour. And we must keep building the capacity of our regulators to detect and prevent illegal financial flows that drain resources meant for development.
If we stay the course, this progress could translate into real growth, one that reaches beyond GDP numbers and touches lives through jobs, stability, and opportunities. Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List is not the end of the story but the beginning of a new chapter. It gives the government, the private sector, and even citizens a reason to take reform seriously. It shows that when we fix our systems, the world notices.
We now have a window to rebuild confidence and attract the kind of investment that creates jobs and reduces poverty. But to keep that momentum, reforms must go deeper. Institutions must stay independent, and transparency must become part of our national culture.
If Nigeria can hold on to this sense of purpose, we might finally move from just being a country full of potential to one that actually fulfills it.
