PayPal Partners Paga to Launch Direct Payments in Nigeria

Nigerians can now connect their PayPal accounts directly to Paga wallets and withdraw in Naira, overcoming years of restricted access to the global payments platform.

Paga and PayPal launched the integration Tuesday, allowing users to receive international payments, shop with global merchants, and access their money locally without the workarounds that have defined PayPal use in Nigeria for over a decade. Users can withdraw to bank accounts, pay bills, or spend through Paga’s card network.

The partnership gives Paga’s 21 million Nigerian users direct access to PayPal’s network of over 400 million users across more than 200 markets. For freelancers earning in dollars, online sellers shipping abroad, or anyone receiving payments from platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, this removes a major financial bottleneck.

Otto Williams, PayPal’s senior vice president, regional head and general manager for the Middle East and Africa, says the company has always seen Nigeria as critical but needed the right local partner before launching.

That partner is Paga, which has the wallet infrastructure, API systems, and merchant network to handle PayPal transactions at scale.

“Success requires the right partner and the right local infrastructure,” Williams said. “The digital economy in Nigeria has reached a level of maturity where mobile wallets and instant payments can support seamless cross-border commerce.”

Paga CEO Tayo Oviosu stated on X that the announcement reflects patience, building trusted local infrastructure, and the belief that global platforms scale better by integrating with, rather than circumventing, local systems.

What Nigerians will get through the partnership

Through the Paga-PayPal link, users can now:

• Receive payments from more than 200 countries directly into their Paga wallets
• Withdraw funds instantly in Naira for local use
• Shop with global merchants accepting PayPal
• Transfer funds to local banks or pay bills without extra steps

For SMEs, integration offers a reliable route to global markets, cutting informal costs and improving cash flow. Onboarding remains via PayPal, but the partnership enables smoother financial services later.

PayPal wants to replicate its Paga partnership across Africa, building on M-PESA, CASHPLUS, and TerraPay collaborations to simplify global transactions.

For now, users can log into the Paga app, link their PayPal account, and start moving money.