By Emeka Blast 
FATF Delists Nigeria and South Africa from Global Financial Watchlist
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has officially removed Nigeria and South Africa from its global money-laundering and terrorist-financing watchlist, marking a significant milestone for both African nations in their efforts to strengthen financial transparency and regulatory compliance.
The announcement, made on Tuesday in Paris, follows a comprehensive review of each country’s progress in implementing international anti-money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist-financing (CTF) standards. The FATF said both nations had demonstrated “substantial improvement” in addressing previous deficiencies.
Nigeria was first placed on the FATF grey list in 2023, a move that increased scrutiny from international financial institutions and discouraged some foreign investors. According to experts, the delisting will help restore confidence in Nigeria’s financial system, reduce transaction costs, and encourage foreign direct investment.
In a statement, the Nigerian Ministry of Finance said the development reflects the government’s “unwavering commitment to global financial integrity and accountability.” The ministry added that the country will continue to strengthen its institutions to prevent illicit financial flows.
South Africa’s removal from the list was also praised by financial analysts, who noted that it would improve access to international banking services and boost investor sentiment across the region.
The FATF urged both countries to maintain momentum and continue enforcing strong measures against money laundering, corruption, and terrorism financing.
For Nigeria, this delisting comes at a time when the government is seeking to stabilize its economy, attract foreign partnerships, and rebuild investor trust amid ongoing reforms in the financial and oil sectors.
