Nigeria has taken another step toward deeper electronic payment adoption, with AfriGO cards now requestable through the PalmPay mobile wallet, expanding availability of domestic card services.
The integration allows PalmPay users to apply for the national card scheme within the app they already use for transfers, bill payments and merchant transactions. Customers preferring offline assistance can instead approach PalmPay’s customer experience centres or its nationwide agent network, which the company says exceeds 500,000 representatives.
AfriGO cards are designed for interoperability across the country’s financial infrastructure, with acceptance on automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals and online payment gateways. Industry observers say expanding domestic card issuance could reduce reliance on international card networks while supporting financial inclusion goals championed by regulators.
Ebehijie Momoh, managing director of AfriGO, described the partnership as part of a localisation strategy. “AfriGO represents our long-term vision for a payments ecosystem designed around Nigeria’s needs and realities. By making AfriGO cards available on the PalmPay app, we are removing barriers to access and ensuring that more Nigerians can participate fully in the digital economy,” he said.
The collaboration also addresses persistent friction in Nigeria’s card services market, where infrastructure reliability, cost pressures and uneven banking access have historically constrained adoption. Fintech platforms have increasingly stepped in to bridge those gaps by leveraging mobile penetration and agent banking networks.
Chika Nwosu, PalmPay’s managing director, said the rollout responds to ongoing consumer demand for dependable payment instruments. “Many Nigerians still face challenges accessing reliable card service. Enabling AfriGO card requests directly on the PalmPay app makes banking smarter and more accessible while giving users confidence to pay seamlessly across Nigeria’s payments ecosystem,” he noted.
