Nigerians Lament PayPal’s Return as Old Wounds Resurface

West Africa WeeklyJanuary 29, 20261 Mins read41

PayPal’s reentry into Nigeria through a partnership with local fintech company Paga has been met with widespread scepticism and anger, as many Nigerians say the global payment firm never addressed losses suffered during years of account restrictions. While the collaboration is being presented as a breakthrough for cross-border payments, reactions online suggest trust in the platform remains deeply damaged.

Under the arrangement, PayPal is leveraging Paga’s local infrastructure to enable Nigerian users receive international payments and withdraw funds in naira. The move comes more than a decade after PayPal first declined to operate fully in Nigeria, citing risk concerns, despite repeated requests from local fintech players, including Paga itself.

Freelancers, digital entrepreneurs and small business owners have since taken to social media to recount experiences from previous years when PayPal accounts linked to Nigeria were abruptly limited. Many said their balances became inaccessible without warning, appeals went unanswered, and funds were never released. For some users, the losses ran into thousands of dollars.

CLICK HERE TO SEE REACTIONS ON X ABOUT PAYPAL

The renewed presence has reopened those wounds. Nigerian’s argue that PayPal’s return through a local partner does not erase years of unresolved grievances. Some early users of the new setup also report persistent restrictions and verification hurdles, reinforcing the perception that Nigerian accounts are still treated as high risk.

As calls for a boycott grow on social media, many Nigerians say domestic fintech platforms have already filled the gap left by PayPal, offering clearer dispute resolution and faster access to funds. For them, the backlash is not resistance to innovation, but a demand for accountability before trust can be rebuilt.