Paga, Nigeria’s pioneering fintech company, and global payments leader PayPal have launched live account linking for Nigerian users, unlocking seamless cross-border payments and local Naira access after years of limited service.
PayPal
The integration allows Nigerians to directly connect PayPal accounts to Paga wallets, receive funds from PayPal’s vast network spanning over 200 markets and 436 million active users, shop with international merchants, and withdraw balances for everyday needs like bill payments, bank transfers, or Visa card spending. This ends longstanding “send-only” restrictions, empowering freelancers, online sellers, and small businesses to earn globally and spend locally without cumbersome workarounds.
Nigerian merchants gain a competitive edge, tapping PayPal’s 400 million-plus customer base to accept payments in up to 25 currencies, with funds settling swiftly via Paga’s nationwide infrastructure. Currency conversions occur at market-driven willing-buyer-willing-seller rates, positioning the service against informal channels and crypto alternatives. Paga’s upcoming merchant gateway enhancements will support larger business transactions directly.
Paga Founder and Group CEO Tayo Oviosu described the rollout as transformative: “Whether you’re a freelancer receiving international payments, a business selling online, or a consumer shopping globally, this collaboration makes it easier to access and use global funds locally, in a way that’s simple, secure, and built for our markets.” PayPal’s Senior Vice President for Middle East and Africa, Otto Williams, added: “We’ve been intentional about partnering with local innovators like Paga… to expand financial inclusion and enable more consumers and businesses to participate confidently in the digital economy.”
The move bolsters Nigeria’s explosive digital payments sector, where 2023 transaction values hit ₦657.8 trillion ($730.9 billion)—averaging ₦54 trillion monthly—and active mobile wallet users exceed 30 million. Backed by Central Bank of Nigeria reforms like IMTO guidelines and fraud protections, it taps a $25 billion annual remittance flow and projects an $18.3 billion digital economy by year-end.
Paga, with over 21 million users, CBN nationwide licensing, and a $250 million valuation, serves as the ideal partner through its API ecosystem and settlement network. To start, users log into the Paga app or site, link their PayPal account (personal or business via individual Paga setup), and begin transacting instantly.
This partnership not only bridges global finance to local realities but also accelerates Nigeria’s fintech dominance, fostering SME growth and diaspora remittances in Africa’s largest economy.
