Mastercard, in collaboration with Interswitch, has announced the launch of Google Pay for eligible Mastercard cardholders in Nigeria. This development marks another milestone in the evolution of Nigeria's digital payments ecosystem, providing consumers with greater choice in how they pay. The introduction of Google Pay brings tokenised mobile payments into everyday transactions, enhancing the convenience and security of digital payments.
The Google Pay service is powered by Mastercard's tokenisation technology, which replaces sensitive card information with a unique digital credential. This technology helps protect card details while providing a seamless payment experience. According to Kari Tukur, Country Manager for West Africa at Mastercard, consumers increasingly expect payment experiences that are simple, secure, and seamlessly integrated into their daily lives.
The launch of Google Pay in Nigeria is a result of collaboration between Mastercard, Interswitch, and Google. Olumide Balagon, Country Director for Google West Africa, noted that the launch would bring Google's digital wallet services to a market increasingly embracing financial innovation. Google Pay allows consumers to add a supported card to the service and tap their compatible phones to pay at locations where contactless payments are accepted.
Interswitch played a crucial role in the launch by working with Mastercard to enable multiple issuers in Nigeria and connect them to the tokenisation and payment-processing capabilities required to offer Google Pay to eligible cardholders. Akeem Lawal, Managing Director of Payment, Switching and Processing at Interswitch, highlighted the company's continued investment in the infrastructure needed to support the next generation of digital payments.
The launch of Google Pay in Nigeria comes amid rapid growth in the country's digital payments market. Data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) show that digital payment transaction volumes reached 11.2 billion in 2026, while transaction values surpassed ₦1.07 quadrillion. This growth highlights the increasing adoption of electronic payments across consumer and business transactions.
The introduction of Google Pay is expected to support the modernisation of the payments landscape in Nigeria. For issuing banks, the service provides another channel for engaging cardholders and supporting mobile-first transactions. Merchants with contactless-enabled terminals can also offer customers a faster and more convenient way to pay using compatible Android devices.
The collaboration between Mastercard, Interswitch, and Google is a significant step towards providing secure, seamless, and innovative payment experiences to consumers across Nigeria. The launch of Google Pay reflects the continued commitment of these companies to working together to deliver innovative digital payment solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers in Nigeria.
Key points
- Mastercard and Interswitch have introduced Google Pay for eligible Mastercard cardholders in Nigeria.
- The service is powered by Mastercard's tokenisation technology, enhancing the security of digital transactions.
- The launch is expected to support the modernisation of Nigeria's payments landscape, with benefits for consumers, issuing banks, and merchants.
