A social media claim that OPay has stopped using customers’ phone numbers as account numbers and is now issuing standard bank account numbers has sparked confusion among users of the fintech platform.

The claim, which circulated among social media users, urged OPay customers still using their phone numbers as account numbers to visit OPay agents to have their accounts updated.

“OPay is no longer using phone numbers as account numbers. They’re now issuing standard account numbers, so if you’re still using your phone number as your OPay account number, hurry to an OPay agent to get yours updated,” an X user, Israel Gharee, posted.

However, an OPay official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PREMIUM TIMES that the claim is inaccurate, adding that the company would communicate any major changes to its customers through its official communication channels.

“I have seen the tweet. But even from the comments you will see people are already correcting him. If we have any update or news, we will always share through our communication channels,” the official said on Sunday.

Clarification

The official said the claim may have been prompted by OPay’s My BizPayment feature, which provides users with a separate account number for business transactions.

The feature is available to existing OPay users who want to use their accounts for business purposes. It allows users to provide information about their businesses and, after completing the process, receive a merchant account number.

The existence of the merchant account number does not mean OPay has replaced the phone-number-based account details used by its regular customers.

The business account number is associated with the user’s existing OPay account and is intended for business-related transactions.

BizPayment account

My BizPayment is a business feature within the OPay app, and it’s not a recent update.

Users can access it through the “Me” section of the app and provide information about their businesses, including the nature of the business and how it operates.

The process includes different business categories and operating models. Once the required information is provided, eligible users can proceed to generate a merchant account number.

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The account number generated through this process may therefore look different from the phone-number format associated with a regular OPay account.

That distinction appears to be at the centre of the social media claim.

No instruction to change existing accounts

There is no indication from OPay that ordinary customers have been instructed to visit agents to replace their existing phone-number-based account details.

The company said any change to its account system would be communicated through its official channels.

The OPay official said the availability of a separate merchant account number through My BizPayment should not be interpreted as an announcement that OPay has discontinued the use of phone numbers for regular customer accounts.

IHS Nigeria has highlighted the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to Nigeria’s connectivity growth as the country marks 25 years since the introduction of GSM technology.

Sylva Ifedigbo, Director, Corporate Communications, IHS Nigeria, said the GSM revolution had fundamentally changed how Nigerians connect, communicate, conduct business and access economic opportunities.

Ifedigbo spoke at the 2026 eWorld Forum in Lagos, where telecommunications and technology stakeholders gathered to reflect on the evolution of GSM in Nigeria and the future of the sector.

“Twenty-five years ago, the introduction of the GSM technology fundamentally transformed how Nigerians connect, communicate, conduct business, and access opportunities,” he said.

According to Ifedigbo, what began as a telecommunications revolution has evolved into an important enabler of economic growth, financial inclusion, innovation and national development.

He said IHS Nigeria had been closely involved in the country’s mobile telecommunications journey through the deployment and management of infrastructure used by mobile network operators.

IHS Nigeria, part of IHS Towers Group, is one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count.

The company currently operates approximately 16,000 towers and more than 15,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across Nigeria, according to Ifedigbo. “We’ve played a significant role in enabling this revolution and are proud to refer to ourselves as Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities,” he said. The infrastructure supports mobile network operators in delivering voice and data services to millions of Nigerians while providing connectivity for digital transactions and other technology-enabled services.

Ifedigbo said the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure had also helped extend mobile voice and broadband access across urban and rural communities, supporting efforts to improve digital inclusion and connect more Nigerians to opportunities in the digital economy. He attributed Nigeria’s telecommunications transformation to the combined efforts of the Federal Government, regulators, technology companies and consumers who embraced mobile connectivity.

“As we reflect on the nation’s telecommunications journey, we must also acknowledge the efforts of the Federal Government, the regulators, led by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), the technology partners and millions of Nigerians who embraced the possibilities of a connected future and helped bring it to life,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ifedigbo said IHS Nigeria would continue working with industry stakeholders to expand connectivity and support Nigeria’s digital transformation. He said the company remained focused on accelerating connectivity, promoting sustainable innovation and supporting inclusive economic growth.

The 2026 eWorld Forum, now in its 12th year, brought together stakeholders to examine developments and challenges shaping Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications ecosystem.

Ifedigbo also congratulated the organisers of the forum and Aaron Ukodie on the publication of two books commemorating and examining aspects of Nigeria’s technology journey.