PayPal has reintroduced inbound payment services in Nigeria through a new partnership with local fintech Paga, ending years of restrictions that prevented Nigerians from receiving funds on the platform.
The collaboration, announced by Paga founder Tayo Oviosu, allows users to link their PayPal accounts to Paga wallets, enabling them to receive international payments, convert balances to naira, and withdraw funds locally.
The move marks a major shift in PayPal’s engagement with Africa’s largest economy after nearly two decades of limited access.
The News Chronicle understands that the partnership is the result of prolonged regulatory engagement and infrastructure alignment rather than a sudden policy change.
Industry sources say the integration fits into PayPal’s broader strategy of working with trusted local platforms to expand safely in emerging markets.
Oviosu revealed that he first approached PayPal in 2013, long before Nigeria’s fintech boom, with a proposal to enable local payment flows.
At the time, Nigerian users were largely restricted to sending money abroad, a limitation that forced freelancers, merchants, and digital workers to seek alternatives.
With the new setup, freelancers can receive global payments, diaspora Nigerians can send money home more easily, and local businesses can accept PayPal payments from international customers.
The development signals a notable return for PayPal, even as Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem has grown more competitive in its absence.
