What is goAML and How It Works in Nigeria
goAML is the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit's official digital platform for receiving AML/CFT reports from banks. Understanding how it works, and how to submit accurately, is fundamental to CBN compliance.
What is goAML?
goAML is a UNODC-developed anti-money laundering reporting system adopted by Nigeria's NFIU (Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit) as the official platform for receiving financial intelligence reports. All Nigerian banks and regulated financial institutions must submit Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) exclusively through goAML. It is a mandatory component of CBN AML/CFT compliance.
Why goAML was adopted in Nigeria
Nigeria's NFIU adopted goAML as part of a broader effort to modernise financial intelligence collection and align with FATF recommendations. The platform replaced manual, email-based reporting processes and enables the NFIU to receive, analyse, and act on financial intelligence in a standardised digital format.
For Nigerian banks, goAML registration is not optional. Failure to register or file through the platform is a regulatory breach subject to CBN sanction.
What reports are submitted via goAML?
Filed within 24 hours of detecting or suspecting suspicious activity. No minimum amount.
Filed for cash transactions ≥ ₦5M (individuals) or ₦10M (corporates).
Filed for broader suspicious behaviour patterns not linked to a single transaction.
Step-by-step: how goAML reporting works
Register on goAML
The institution's MLRO (Money Laundering Reporting Officer) registers the bank on the NFIU's goAML portal and creates user accounts for compliance staff.
Detect suspicious activity
Transaction monitoring systems flag suspicious transactions. Analysts review alerts and escalate confirmed cases.
Prepare the report
The compliance officer drafts the STR or CTR, capturing all required fields, customer details, transaction data, suspicion grounds, and supporting evidence.
Internal approval
Senior compliance officer or MLRO reviews and approves the report before submission. This approval is logged in the audit trail.
Submit via goAML
The approved report is submitted through goAML's web portal or API. goAML issues a submission receipt and unique reference number.
Retain records
All submitted reports, approval records, and goAML receipts are retained for a minimum of 5 years to support CBN examination readiness.
Manual vs automated goAML submission
Banks can submit reports manually through the goAML web portal or automate submissions via API integration. For high-volume institutions, manual submission creates bottlenecks and increases error risk. Automated submission, triggered directly from your transaction monitoring or case management system, reduces filing time and ensures accuracy.
Common goAML compliance failures
- Filing STRs after the 24-hour deadline
- Submitting reports with incomplete mandatory fields
- Not retaining goAML submission receipts
- Failing to register all compliance users on the platform
- Manual submission errors due to lack of system integration
Automate goAML reporting from your transaction monitoring system
AI Shield Nexus integrates directly with goAML, auto-generating pre-populated STR/CTR drafts from confirmed alerts, with one-click submission and full audit trail retention.
Frequently asked questions
What is goAML?
goAML is the UNODC-developed platform adopted by Nigeria's NFIU for receiving STRs, CTRs, SARs, and other financial intelligence reports from regulated banks and financial institutions.
Is goAML mandatory for Nigerian banks?
Yes. All CBN-regulated institutions must register on goAML and submit all regulatory reports exclusively through the platform.
How do Nigerian banks submit reports on goAML?
Via the goAML secure web portal (manual) or via API integration (automated). Reports must follow goAML's XML schema requirements.
What is the STR deadline on goAML?
STRs must be submitted within 24 hours of detecting or forming reasonable suspicion of suspicious activity.
What is goAML used for?
goAML is used by Nigerian banks to submit Suspicious Transaction Reports, Currency Transaction Reports, and Suspicious Activity Reports to the NFIU in a standardised digital format.