EBANX Becomes First Global Payments Firm to Launch Recurring OPay Payments in Nigeria

EBANX has become the first global payments provider to integrate OPay Direct Debit, enabling international merchants to process recurring transactions in Nigeria. With credit card penetration at just 5% in Africa’s largest e-commerce market, this integration provides a critical bridge for subscription-based businesses to reach 40 million active digital wallet users.

What was announced

EBANX is launching OPay Direct Debit to facilitate automated, recurring transactions for global subscription services operating in Nigeria. The solution allows OPay’s 40 million monthly active users—representing approximately one-third of the country's adult population—to authorise future charges through a one-time setup within the OPay app. This removes the need for customers to manually re-enter payment details for every billing cycle, a common friction point in markets with low credit card usage.

Nigeria’s e-commerce sector is currently valued at $30 billion and is projected to add 32 million new consumers by 2036. Despite this growth, 95% of online spending in the country comes from consumers without credit cards. Mobile phone penetration stands at 84%, driving a preference for digital wallets and bank transfers, which together account for 65% of Nigeria’s total e-commerce volume.

By integrating OPay Direct Debit, EBANX aims to help global merchants move beyond traditional "card-on-file" models that often exclude the majority of the Nigerian population. The service is designed for a variety of digital services, including streaming platforms and online productivity tools, providing a localized payment experience that aligns with existing consumer behavior in the region. Users make a one-time authorisation directly in the app, enabling merchants to collect future charges without the customer needing to be present for every transaction.

"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,"

Eduardo de Abreu, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of EBANX.

The companies involved

EBANX is a global fintech company specializing in payment solutions for emerging markets. The firm has built a significant presence by connecting global merchants with local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. EBANX frequently focuses on bridging the gap between international digital services and consumers who lack access to traditional banking or international credit cards. OPay is a leading digital bank and mobile payment platform operating in Nigeria. It has rapidly scaled its user base to become a dominant force in the country's financial ecosystem, offering a digital wallet that supports peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, and now recurring direct debits for global services. The platform is central to Nigeria's shift away from cash and toward mobile-first financial services. Both companies operate in a landscape where localized payment infrastructure is essential for market entry, as traditional global payment rails often fail to capture the nuances of consumer behavior in high-growth, mobile-centric economies like Nigeria.

What FF News has reported before

EBANX has been aggressively expanding its footprint and technical capabilities in emerging markets. The company recently announced an EBANX Expands to Pakistan and Launches Native Apple Pay Decryption for Global Merchants. In the gaming sector, NetEase Games Club Taps EBANX to Unlock Local Payments for Latin American Gamers. FF News has also tracked the broader evolution of digital payments in these regions, noting that Colombia’s Bre-B Outpaces Brazil’s Pix with 83% Adoption in First Year. Furthermore, research has highlighted a demographic shift in these territories, with Emerging Markets E-commerce Shift: Consumers Aged 45+ to Drive 51% of Online Spending Growth, underscoring the need for diverse and accessible payment methods.

What this means

This move highlights the growing irrelevance of the credit card as the primary tool for global e-commerce expansion in Africa. For subscription-based giants, the "card-on-file" model is a barrier to entry in Nigeria, not a facilitator. By enabling direct debit via a dominant local wallet like OPay, EBANX is forcing a shift in how Western merchants view recurring revenue in emerging markets. The pressure now moves to other payment processors to provide similar deep integrations with local digital banks. It also raises questions about whether traditional banks in the region can compete with the agility of digital-first wallets in securing high-value international merchant partnerships.