Global payments company EBANX has become the first international payments provider to offer OPay Direct Debit, a recurring payment solution that enables international 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. It is designed to simplify recurring payments for services such as streaming platforms and online tools.
Through OPay Direct Debit, customers 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 World Bank Global Findex data cited by EBANX, only 5% of Nigerian adults own credit cards, compared with mobile phone penetration of 84%. World Data Lab figures analysed by EBANX indicate that 95% of online spending in Nigeria comes from consumers without credit cards.
EBANX Chief Product Officer Eduardo de Abreu said Nigeria’s high mobile penetration and growing population make it one of Africa’s most strategic digital markets. He added that the company’s launch of recurring payments through OPay reflects its work to expand payment access in emerging markets.
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. These payment methods are becoming increasingly important for international merchants seeking to reach consumers who do not use credit cards.
OPay Chief Commercial Officer Elizabeth Wang said the partnership would make it easier for Nigerians to pay for international digital services. She added that OPay Direct Debit offers customers a convenient way to manage subscriptions while retaining control over their payments.
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, allowing customers to pay for subscriptions directly from their bank accounts.
EBANX Chief Operating Officer Marin Mignot said the company adapts payment integrations to the needs of individual markets, addressing differences between how consumers pay and the payment methods traditionally supported by international merchants.
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.
