PayPal launches in Nigeria through Paga, letting users receive international payments and spend funds in naira for the first time in over 20 years
Nigeria has taken a major step in cross-border digital payments as PayPal officially launched in the country through a strategic partnership with local fintech company Paga, enabling Nigerians to receive international payments and access funds in naira for the first time in more than two decades.
The integration allows users to link PayPal accounts directly to Paga digital wallets, enabling global payments from PayPal-supported markets and local withdrawals in naira.
Funds can also be used for everyday needs, including bill payments, bank transfers, online purchases, and transactions via Paga’s Visa card.
The development offers a significant boost to freelancers, online entrepreneurs, and small businesses that have previously faced challenges in accessing PayPal services directly.
It also opens new opportunities for Nigerian merchants to sell to over 400 million PayPal users worldwide.
Tayo Oviosu, founder and Group CEO of Paga, said the integration aims to make global earnings more accessible to Nigerians.
“This partnership will benefit freelancers, online businesses, and consumers by allowing them to easily receive, use, and manage international funds within the local economy,” he said.
Otto Williams, PayPal’s Senior Vice President and Regional Head for the Middle East and Africa, noted that the company worked closely with local innovators to develop solutions tailored to Nigeria.
He said the partnership will strengthen the payments ecosystem, expand financial inclusion, and allow more Nigerians to participate confidently in the digital economy.
Nigeria’s digital payments sector has grown rapidly, with transaction values reaching N657.8 trillion in 2023 and over 30 million active mobile wallet users, according to Novatia Consulting.
Paga, with more than 21 million users and a strong API-driven infrastructure, is well-positioned to scale PayPal’s services nationwide through its settlement network.
Users can access the service by logging into the Paga app or website, linking their PayPal accounts, and receiving international payments directly into their Paga wallets, which can then be transferred, spent, or withdrawn locally.
Industry experts say the partnership marks a milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s financial infrastructure, easing access to global income streams, and empowering small businesses and individuals to participate more fully in the global digital economy.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
Trending News5 years ago
Others4 years ago
Humanity4 years ago
Others7 years ago
Business2 years ago
Business2 years ago