After nearly two decades of restricted access, global payments giant PayPal has officially reopened services in Nigeria, enabling users to receive international payments and access cross-border funds locally for the first time in years.
The development comes through a new partnership with Nigerian fintech firm Paga, which now acts as the local bridge for PayPal’s operations in the country. Under the integration, Nigerians can link their PayPal accounts to their Paga wallets, allowing them to receive payments from PayPal’s global network and withdraw funds in naira for local use.
With the live PayPal–Paga connection, Nigerian users — including freelancers, small business owners, digital merchants and remote workers — can now:
- Receive international payments from more than 200 PayPal-enabled markets;
- Withdraw funds in naira through their Paga wallets;
- Shop with global merchants that accept PayPal;
- Transfer or spend funds locally, including bill payments and bank transfers, all within the Paga ecosystem.
Before this partnership, PayPal accounts in Nigeria were largely limited to sending outbound payments, while the ability to receive or withdraw funds was unavailable due to longstanding restrictions.
Paga’s Founder and Group CEO, Tayo Oviosu, described the integration as a milestone for digital financial services in Nigeria, saying it simplifies global fund access for individuals and businesses and strengthens financial inclusion.
PayPal’s Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, Otto Williams, said the collaboration reflects a strategy of working with local innovators to broaden access to global payments.
Industry analysts say the move could significantly expand opportunities for Nigerian freelancers and SMEs who previously faced hurdles accessing PayPal’s global payment network — especially in sectors like online services, export-oriented business and e-commerce.
While many welcome the development as a long-awaited leap for Nigeria’s digital economy, some social media users have expressed scepticism or criticism, recalling past frustrations with restricted accounts, frozen funds, and limited PayPal functionality.
Nevertheless, the PayPal–Paga integration represents a significant shift in how global payment platforms engage with Nigeria’s growing fintech ecosystem, signalling renewed confidence in the market and offering expanded financial opportunities for local users.
