Mastercard, Interswitch Bring Google Pay to Nigeria

Mastercard, working with Interswitch, has announced that eligible Mastercard cardholders in Nigeria can now use Google Pay to make secure, convenient and contactless payments using their Android devices.

The launch marks another step forward in the evolution of Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem, providing consumers with greater choice in how they pay and bringing tokenised mobile payments to everyday transactions. Powered by Mastercard’s tokenisation technology, the solution helps secure digital transactions by replacing sensitive card information with a unique digital credential, delivering a seamless and secure payment experience.

Kari Tukur, country manager for West Africa at Mastercard, said: “Consumers increasingly expect payment experiences that are simple, secure and seamlessly integrated into their daily lives. Our collaboration with Google brings together the convenience of mobile payments and the security of Mastercard’s tokenisation technology, giving eligible cardholders a seamless way to pay while keeping their card details protected. This launch reflects our continued commitment to working with ecosystem collaborators  to deliver innovative, secure and trusted digital payment experiences to consumers across Nigeria.”

Google Pay enables consumers to add a supported card to Google Pay and tap their phone to pay wherever contactless payments are accepted.

Olumide Balagon, Country Director, Google West Africa, said: “We are delighted to bring Google Wallet to Nigeria, a market at the forefront of financial innovation in Africa. Google Wallet makes everyday transactions faster and safer while removing the friction of carrying physical cards. By working alongside Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, we are expanding access to modern digital payment tools for millions of everyday consumers.”

The launch has been supported by Interswitch, which worked with Mastercard to help enable multiple issuers in Nigeria and connect them to the tokenisation and processing capabilities required to offer Google Pay to eligible cardholders.

Akeem Lawal, MD, Payment, Switching and Processing at Interswitch, said: “At Interswitch, we have consistently been at the forefront of payments innovation in Nigeria, building the infrastructure and capabilities that enable the next generation of digital payments. Our work has helped establish the issuer connectivity, tokenisation and payment processing capabilities required to bring ‘tap-to-pay’ and wallet-based payments to Nigerian consumers. We are delighted to support the launch of Google Pay and to continue working with Mastercard, Google and our ecosystem collaborators to make secure, seamless and innovative payment experiences more accessible across Nigeria.”

The launch comes at a time of rapid growth in Nigeria’s digital-payments ecosystem. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System’s (NIBSS) data shows that digital payment transaction volumes reached 11.2 billion in 2026, with transaction values surpassing ₦1.07 quadrillion, underscoring the increasing adoption of digital payments across consumer and business transactions.

As consumers increasingly adopt mobile-first payment experiences, tokenised digital wallets such as Google Pay offer an additional layer of convenience and security while supporting the continued modernisation of the payments landscape.

For issuing banks, Google Pay provides another way to deepen digital engagement with cardholders and support mobile-first payment experiences. For merchants with contactless-enabled terminals, it offers a faster, more convenient way to serve customers who prefer to pay using their Android devices.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment by Mastercard, Interswitch, issuing banks and ecosystem collaborators  to expand access to secure digital payment experiences and support the continued growth of Nigeria’s digital economy