Mastercard and Interswitch have launched Google Pay in Nigeria, allowing eligible Mastercard cardholders to make digital payments using compatible Android devices, as the country’s electronic payments market continues to expand.
This implies that eligible Mastercard holders can use compatible Android devices for digital payments, as Google expands its payment services into Nigeria.
The launch of Google Pay in Nigeria at Moonshot by Techcabal, introduces another payment option for Nigerian consumers which enables them to add supported cards to Google Wallet and use their devices to pay at participating merchants and supported contactless terminals, subject to card, device and merchant compatibility.
The service uses Mastercard’s tokenisation technology, which replaces sensitive card details with a unique digital credential to help protect payment information during transactions.
However, access is limited to eligible cards issued by participating banks. Google’s published support list identifies Mastercard debit cards from FirstBank and Guaranty Trust Bank, Mastercard credit, debit and prepaid cards from Zenith Bank, and Mastercard credit, debit and prepaid cards from United Bank for Africa. Not every Mastercard issued in Nigeria is therefore eligible.
The rollout also depends on the availability of compatible devices and payment terminals, meaning consumers may not be able to use the tap-to-pay feature at every merchant.
Kari Tukur, country manager for West Africa at Mastercard, said the collaboration responds to growing demand for payment services that combine convenience with security.
‘Consumers expect payment experiences that are simple, secure and seamlessly integrated into their daily lives,’ Tukur said, adding that the partnership with Google would give eligible cardholders a way to pay while keeping their card details protected.
Olumide Balagon, Google’s country director for West Africa, said the launch would expand access to digital payment tools in a market he described as being at the forefront of financial innovation in Africa.
Google Wallet allows users to store supported payment cards and other digital items, while Google Pay facilitates payments through supported services and merchants.
Interswitch supported the rollout by working with Mastercard to connect multiple card issuers to the tokenisation and payment-processing infrastructure required to offer the service.
Akeem Lawal, managing director of Payment, Switching and Processing at Interswitch, said the company’s work on issuer connectivity and payment processing had helped establish the infrastructure needed to support mobile wallets and contactless payments.
The launch comes as Nigeria’s electronic payments market continues to expand. For banks, the service offers another channel through which to engage cardholders and extend digital payment options.
Merchants with compatible contactless terminals could also serve customers who prefer paying with their phones rather than physical cards.
The launch adds to the range of digital payment services available in Nigeria, but its reach will depend on how many banks enable eligible cards, how widely compatible payment terminals are deployed and whether consumers adopt phone-based payments for everyday purchases.