Mastercard, global payments giant has partnered with Interswitch to provide
eligible Mastercard cardholders in Nigeria Google Pay to conduct contactless payments using their Android devices.
The launch marks another step forward in the evolution of Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem, providing consumers with greater choice in how they pay and bringing tokenized mobile payments to everyday transactions.
The solution supports secure digital transactions by replacing sensitive card information with a unique digital credential, delivering a seamless payment experience.
Kari Tukur, country manager for West Africa at Mastercard, said: ‘Consumers increasingly expect payment experiences that are simple, secure and seamlessly integrated into their daily lives. Our collaboration with Google brings together the convenience of mobile payments and the security of Mastercard’s tokenization technology, giving eligible cardholders a seamless way to pay while keeping their card details protected.’
This collaboration is coming at a time of rapid growth in Nigeria’s digital-payments ecosystem. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System’s (NIBSS) data shows that digital payment transaction volumes reached 11.2 billion in 2026, with transaction values surpassing N1.07 quadrillion, underscoring the increasing adoption of digital payments across consumer and business transactions.
Google Pay enables consumers to add a supported card to Google Pay and tap their phone to pay wherever contactless payments are accepted.
‘We are delighted to bring Google Wallet to Nigeria, a market at the forefront of financial innovation in Africa. Google Wallet makes everyday transactions faster and safer while removing the friction of carrying physical cards. By working alongside Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, we are expanding access to modern digital payment tools for millions of everyday consumers,’ Olumide Balagon Country Director, Google West Africa, said.
The launch has been supported by Interswitch, which worked with Mastercard to help enable multiple issuers in Nigeria and connect them to the tokenization and processing capabilities required to offer Google Pay to eligible cardholders.
Akeem Lawal, MD Payment, Switching and Processing at Interswitch, said: ‘At Interswitch, we have consistently been at the forefront of payments innovation in Nigeria, building the infrastructure and capabilities that enable the next generation of digital payments. Our work has helped establish the issuer connectivity, tokenization and payment processing capabilities required to bring ‘tap-to-pay’ and wallet-based payments to Nigerian consumers.’
As consumers increasingly adopt mobile-first payment experiences, tokenized digital wallets such as Google Pay offer an additional layer of convenience and security while supporting the continued modernization of the payments landscape.
For issuing banks, Google Pay provides another way to deepen digital engagement with cardholders and support mobile-first payment experiences. For merchants with contactless-enabled terminals, it offers a faster, more convenient way to serve customers who prefer to pay using their Android devices