Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has welcomed the launch of Google Pay by participating financial institutions in Nigeria, an initiative supported through Visa's partnership with Google. Eligible Visa cardholders of these participating institutions can now securely add their cards to Google Wallet and make fast, convenient, and secure payments across millions of contactless acceptance points and online merchants.

The rollout by participating financial institutions marks another significant milestone in Nigeria's digital payments journey, giving consumers a simple and secure way to pay using their Android devices. Google Wallet serves as the app where eligible cards are stored on an Android device, and Google Pay is the service used to pay with those cards at checkout. Once an eligible Visa card is added to Google Wallet, users can tap to pay in stores at contactless-enabled terminals, complete purchases online, and enjoy a seamless payment experience across Google's ecosystem.

Security is underpinned by tokenization technology. Instead of storing or sharing a customer's actual card number during transactions, Google Pay substitutes a unique digital token, adding an extra layer of protection while maintaining a fast and convenient checkout experience. Because merchants receive the token rather than the underlying card details, the customer's actual card number is not exposed during a purchase.

As consumer demand for digital-first payment experiences continues to grow, the partnership between Visa and Google, working alongside Nigerian financial institutions, aims to support contactless payment adoption and provide Nigerians with more ways to pay securely wherever Visa contactless payments are accepted. The rollout also opens a new digital channel for participating banks, and since eligibility depends on each institution's participation, cardholders can confirm with their bank whether their Visa card can be added to Google Wallet.

Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Cluster Head, Visa West Africa, said: “At Visa, we are committed to advancing the future of payments by delivering innovative, secure, and seamless payment experiences for consumers across Nigeria and beyond. Through our partnership with Google, we are pleased to support our financial institution partners as they bring Google Pay to their cardholders, combining the security of Visa's global payment network with the convenience consumers increasingly expect in a digital-first world. Helping more people pay with confidence using their mobile devices supports digital commerce, financial inclusion, and the continued growth of Nigeria's digital economy.”

Olumide Balogun, 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.”