Google launched Google Wallet and Google Pay in Nigeria on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Android and Wear OS users can add eligible cards from FirstBank, GTBank, UBA, and Zenith Bank. The app supports contactless taps in stores, plus in-app and online payments.
Supported cards and limits
Google’s supported card list includes Mastercard debit, prepaid, and credit products from the four banks. UBA also lists a Visa prepaid card. The Central Bank of Nigeria caps tap-to-pay at ₦15,000 per transaction and ₦50,000 per day without a PIN or biometric check.
Scarce contactless terminals
Contactless payments remain rare in Nigeria. Many point-of-sale terminals lack the hardware for phone taps. None of the announcements name a PoS provider or acquirer that accepts them.
What the app stores
Beyond payments, Google Wallet stores boarding passes, event tickets, and loyalty cards. It protects payment data with encryption and supports Find My Device. Users authorize store payments with a fingerprint, face scan, or PIN.
Nigeria’s launch follows South Africa’s Google Wallet debut by four years. Cards from Verve, AfriGO, OPay, Moniepoint, Kuda, and PalmPay are absent from the initial list. Visa says its Nigerian cardholders can use Google Pay, but Google’s list currently includes only one Visa product.