In October 2025, after more than two years under scrutiny, Nigeria was formally removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list”,   a designation for jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money‑laundering (AML) and counter‑financing‑of‑terrorism (CFT) frameworks. Almost concurrently, in November 2025, S&P Global Ratings revised Nigeria’s sovereign credit outlook from Stable to Positive. To many, these are mere surface headline with little impacts, while for others, this signals stability.  For investors, senior executives, compliance teams, and financial transaction lawyers, the key question remains: Is this really a turning point, or just a token signal?

In this insight, we explore exactly what FATF delisting means for cross-border banking risk, compliance costs, and capital flows; we unpack how S&P’s Positive Outlook maps to Nigeria’s fiscal, external, monetary, and growth trajectory; and we detail the investment implications – for foreign investors, corporate Nigeria, and high-level financial institutions. We closed with calibrated risk scenarios, actionables, and strategic recommendations.

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