Nigerians have taken to social media to express sharply divided reactions following PayPal’s renewed engagement with the country, with responses ranging from calls for a boycott to cautious optimism about new opportunities.
The shift comes after PayPal partnered with local fintech firm Paga, a move disclosed by Paga’s founder Tayo Oviosu.
The integration allows Nigerian users to receive international payments via PayPal by linking accounts to Paga wallets—something that was previously restricted.
For many users, however, the announcement reopened old wounds. Several Nigerians on X argued that PayPal’s return does not erase past grievances, particularly complaints around account freezes, withheld funds, and long-standing service limitations.
Calling for a boycott, @Lord_Of_Warri wrote:
“DON’T USE IT! They seized our people’s money for years and stigmatized us as fraudsters… Hell no. We have better local platforms that do it faster and cheaper. Boycott them and support Naija fintech!”
Other posts echoed similar distrust, warning users about possible fund holds and limited recourse in disputes, with some describing PayPal as an “account-freezing machine” and urging Nigerians to stick with local or alternative international payment platforms.
Despite the backlash, some users offered a more pragmatic, business-focused view. @Finaltoucch argued that PayPal’s move was driven by changing market realities rather than a sudden shift in trust.
“PayPal didn’t suddenly trust Nigerians. They just didn’t want to be left behind,” she wrote, noting that many Nigerians are already earning foreign income through freelancing and remote work, often via platforms such as Payoneer, Deel, Raenest, or even crypto. “Money was moving. PayPal was not involved. So they reopened Nigeria. It’s just business.”
PayPal’s historically limited functionality in Nigeria dates back to the early 2000s. In 2004, the company restricted services in several African countries, including Nigeria, citing concerns over credit card fraud, weak regulatory frameworks, and the absence of robust national identification systems—factors it said were exploited by fraud rings.
Under the new arrangement with Paga, users can link their PayPal accounts to Paga wallets, view balances within the Paga app, convert funds to naira, and withdraw locally.
Supporters say the development could expand options for freelancers, merchants, and digital entrepreneurs, even as critics urge caution.
As reactions continue to pour in, PayPal’s re-entry—via a local partner rather than a full standalone rollout—has reopened a wider debate about trust, regulation, and the balance between global platforms and Nigeria’s growing homegrown fintech ecosystem.
