EBANX Integrates OPay Direct Debit for Global Subscription Payments in Nigeria
The integration gives international merchants access to OPay’s 40 million monthly active users, equivalent to approximately one in three adults in Nigeria. The solution is designed to simplify subscription payments for services such as streaming platforms and online tools.
Global payments company EBANX has become the first international payments provider to offer OPay Direct Debit, a recurring payment solution that enables global subscription businesses to collect payments from Nigerian consumers through the OPay digital wallet.
The integration gives international merchants access to OPay’s 40 million monthly active users, equivalent to approximately one in three adults in Nigeria. The solution is designed to simplify subscription payments for services such as streaming platforms and online tools.
OPay Direct Debit allows customers to authorise recurring transactions once through the OPay app. Merchants can then collect subsequent subscription payments without requiring customers to be present or re-enter their payment details for each transaction.
The launch addresses a gap in Nigeria’s digital payments market, where credit card ownership remains limited despite widespread mobile phone use.
According to the World Bank’s Global Findex data cited by EBANX, only 5% of Nigerian adults own credit cards, while mobile phone penetration among adults stands at 84%. Data from World Data Lab, analysed by EBANX, also indicates that 95% of online spending in Nigeria comes from consumers without credit cards.
“With one of the continent’s highest mobile penetration rates and a young, fast-growing population, Nigeria is expected to remain Africa’s largest and most strategic digital market over the next decade. Being the first global payments company to go live with recurring payments through OPay is a testament to the access EBANX has built in emerging markets.”
– Eduardo de Abreu, Chief Product Officer, EBANX
Nigeria’s e-commerce market is valued at $30 billion, according to World Data Lab data analysed by EBANX. The country is also projected to add 32 million consumers to the consumer class by 2036.
Digital wallets and bank transfers already account for 65% of Nigeria’s e-commerce transaction volume, according to Payment and Commerce Market Intelligence data, highlighting the importance of alternative payment methods for merchants seeking to expand their reach.
Elizabeth Wang, Chief Commercial Officer at OPay, said the partnership would make it easier for Nigerians to pay for international digital services.
“Our partnership with EBANX isn’t just processing transactions; it’s shaping the future of digital payments across the region.”
– Elizabeth Wang, Chief Commercial Officer, OPay
She added that OPay Direct Debit would give customers a convenient way to pay for services while retaining control over their subscriptions.
The Nigerian launch follows a similar initiative in South Africa, where EBANX enabled Canva to offer recurring payments through Capitec Pay’s account-to-account solution. That integration allows South African customers to pay for subscriptions directly through their bank accounts.
According to Marin Mignot, Chief Operating Officer at EBANX, the company adapts its payment integrations to the needs of individual markets rather than applying a single model across countries.
“The gap between how people actually pay and the payment methods merchants have historically supported is exactly where we see the most room to grow, and OPay Direct Debit is one more example of building that bridge for global merchants.”
– Marin Mignot, Chief Operating Officer, EBANX
Including Nigeria and South Africa, EBANX offers recurring alternative payment solutions across 13 emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The company estimates these solutions could help global merchants reach more than 1.1 billion consumers who rely on alternative payment methods, including digital wallets and account-to-account transfers.
