How to File NFIU Reports on goAML in Nigeria

Filing an NFIU report is a practical compliance process, but knowing which platform to use and what information to enter can make the process much easier.

goAML Nigeria is the web-based reporting platform used by relevant reporting entities to submit regulatory reports to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The current goAML portal requires organisations to register as a reporting entity before they can access the system. 

This guide explains how Nfiu reporting works on goAML, what you need before filing, how to submit a report and what to do after submission.

What Is goAML and What Is It Used For?

goAML is a financial intelligence reporting system developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and used by financial intelligence units, including the NFIU, to receive and process regulatory reports.

For goaml nfiu reporting, the platform supports different report types, including Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Additional Information Files (AIFs). The NFIU's current FAQ identifies these four report types for goAML. 

The NFIU uses information received through these reports as part of its financial intelligence function. Its mandate includes receiving suspicious and threshold-based transaction reports, analysing the information and disseminating relevant intelligence to competent authorities. 

This makes goAML Nigeria an important part of the wider AML compliance process, alongside customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, investigation and recordkeeping.

 For a broader understanding of the regulatory framework, see article on AML regulations in Nigeria.

What Do You Need Before Filing an NFIU Report on goAML?

Before starting Nfiu reporting on goAML, make sure you have:

• An approved reporting entity account

• Your goAML login credentials

• The correct report type

• Relevant customer or subject information

• Transaction details, where applicable

• Supporting information or documents, where required

• Accurate information that matches your internal records

The current goAML portal states that organisations must register under "Register as an Organisation" before they can access the system.

It is also important to determine whether the report should be filed through goAML or another NFIU reporting channel. For example, the NFIU currently uses RapidAML for certain entities and report types, including STRs and CTRs for BDCs. 

How to File an NFIU Report on goAML

Once your reporting entity has access to goAML, the filing process can be broken down into the following steps.

Step 1: Log in to the goAML portal

Go to the official goAML Nigeria portal and log in using your registered username and password.

If you do not yet have an account, you must complete the reporting entity registration process first.

Step 2: Select the report type

Start by selecting the type of report you need to file.

The report type matters because different reports require different information and serve different regulatory purposes.

For example:

• STR: Used when a transaction or activity is suspicious.

• CTR: Used for qualifying threshold-based transactions.

• SAR: Used for suspicious activity that may not involve a specific transaction.

• AIF: Used to provide additional information relating to an existing report.

The NFIU's current goAML reference also identifies these report codes within its reporting schema.

If you are filing a CTR, see our guide to Currency Transaction Reports in Nigeria.

For suspicious activity, see Suspicious Transaction Reports in Nigeria: When and How to File.

Step 3: Complete the report information

Once you select the appropriate report type, goAML loads the relevant reporting form.

The goAML web guide shows that a web report contains sections for the report itself, reporting person, location, transactions, parties and other relevant information. Mandatory fields are identified within the form and validation errors are highlighted for correction.

For a transaction report, you may need to provide information such as:

• Transaction date

• Transaction amount

• Currency

• Transaction type

• Accounts involved

• Persons or entities involved

• Relevant addresses and identifiers

• Other information required by the report type

The exact fields depend on the report and the current NFIU configuration, so reporting entities should use the current NFIU schema and reporting guidance rather than relying on an old checklist.

Step 4: Add relevant supporting information

Where applicable, add supporting information or documents to the report.

The goAML web application includes an attachments section where files can be uploaded and described.

For an STR, this may be particularly useful when additional documentation helps explain the activity being reported.

The key is to provide information that helps the NFIU understand the transaction or activity and the reason for reporting it.

Step 5: Review and validate the report

Before submitting, review every section carefully.

Check:

• Customer and subject information

• Transaction dates and amounts

• Account information

• Parties involved

• Report type

• Mandatory fields

• Supporting information

The goAML interface uses validation indicators to show incomplete or invalid sections. The report cannot be submitted until the required sections are complete and valid.

Step 6: Submit the report

Once all required sections are complete and valid, the goAML submission button becomes available.

After submission, the report is moved into the Submitted Reports area and can no longer be edited or resubmitted from the same report form.

For this reason, compliance teams should complete their internal review before clicking submit.

How to File NFIU Reports Using XML on goAML

Financial institutions with larger reporting volumes may use XML rather than entering every report manually.

The NFIU provides a dedicated XML Reporting Format section containing its goAML Schema Guide, Web Guide, Lookup Master and XML Validator.

The goAML web application also supports uploading XML reports and transactions. The NFIU's web guide explains that XML files must follow the applicable goAML schema and that invalid or outdated XML may require correction before it can be processed.

For Nfiu reporting, XML can therefore be useful for institutions that need to submit larger volumes of structured transaction data.

What Happens After You Submit an NFIU Report?

Submitting the report is not necessarily the end of the process.

For goAML Nigeria users, the platform provides reporting grids where submitted web and XML reports can be viewed alongside their status.

The NFIU also states that acknowledgements for STRs are provided through the goAML Message Board, with email notifications to registered users.

If a report is rejected, the reason can be reviewed through the goAML Message Board or Submitted Reports area. The NFIU's current FAQ states that web-filed STRs can be reverted and corrected within the specified correction period, while XML or API/B2B submissions require the filing process to be repeated.

Compliance teams should therefore monitor submitted reports rather than assuming that submission automatically means successful processing.

Common Errors to Avoid When Filing on goAML

Good goAML Nigeria reporting depends on the quality of the information being submitted.

Common issues include:

• Selecting the wrong report type

• Leaving mandatory fields incomplete

• Entering inconsistent customer information

• Incorrect transaction amounts or dates

• Using outdated XML schemas

• Uploading invalid XML

• Failing to review validation errors

• Not checking the status of submitted reports

A simple internal review before submission can prevent many of these issues.

How Youverify Helps Financial Institutions With NFIU Reporting

NFIU reporting becomes easier when compliance teams can move from fraud signals and investigations to reporting without piecing information together across different systems.

Youverify helps connect these workflows, while Vyra AI assists teams with analysing alerts, bringing relevant context together and preparing case-ready information for review.

With Youverify's Regulatory Reporting solution, compliance teams can reduce manual work and spend more time on investigation and decision-making.

Want to strengthen your fraud and regulatory reporting workflow? Speak with our fraud experts.