Nigeria has set a new benchmark in Africa’s digital finance landscape, as its NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) platform achieved “Mature” status, the highest rating on the AfricaNenda Foundation Inclusivity Spectrum.
The announcement was made during the launch of the State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (SIIPS) 2025 in Eswatini.
According to africanenda.org, the recognition positions NIP as the continent’s first instant payment system to meet the criteria for inclusivity, efficiency, and widespread adoption. Industry experts say this milestone reflects Nigeria’s growing leadership in fintech innovation and signals a significant advancement in making instant, secure, and accessible digital payments available to millions across Africa.
NIP, introduced by NIBSS in 2011, began as a platform enabling real-time bank-to-bank transfers. Over time, it expanded its reach, strengthened its governance framework, and incorporated strong risk and consumer protection mechanisms. Today, the system processes millions of transactions daily and is central to Nigeria’s digital economy.
READ: News: CBN Ranks Nigeria’s Instant Payment System Among World’s Best
What “Mature” Means
The “Mature” level of inclusivity is the highest tier on AfricaNenda’s Inclusivity Spectrum. It represents a system that meets all criteria across functionality, governance, accessibility and consumer-protection. According to the report, NIP’s maturity status reflects:
- Compatibility with a broad range of payment use-cases (not just peer-to-peer, but also but also business, government, cross-border, etc.)
- Robust consumer recourse and dispute-resolution mechanisms, going beyond the minimum regulatory requirements.
- A sustainable operating model — one that keeps fees low for consumers, while ensuring accessibility, reliability and interoperability
This milestone offers a practical blueprint for other African countries. It shows that achieving a fully inclusive, mature instant-payment infrastructure is possible with strong governance, transparency, sustainable models and consumer protection.
READ: Africa: Nigeria Surpasses Kenya in Instant Payments Growth
AfricaNenda’s Deputy CEO, Sabine F. Mensah, described the achievement as a major milestone for the continent and an important step forward for inclusive instant payments in Africa. “SIIPS 2025 demonstrates that Africa’s momentum toward inclusive instant payments is real and accelerating. Every new system that comes online, and every improvement to an existing one, brings us closer to a continent where affordable, seamless payments are accessible to everyone, regardless of geography or income.”
Premier Oiwoh, the CEO and Managing Director of NIBSS, noted that the recognition reflects years of industry effort. He highlighted the role of the industry dispute resolution platform, driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which he said has “reduced the number of disputes in the industry” and strengthened trust in the system.
Premier called the award more than a milestone — “a vision of inclusive growth,” and underscored Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to deliver payments infrastructure that is “faster, affordable, safer, interoperable and accessible to all Nigerians.”
The elevation of NIP to “Mature” sends a strong signal across the continent: inclusive, consumer-centered instant payment infrastructure is achievable, and replicable. For AfricaNenda and partners, this validates the call to scale IPS deployment, deepen interoperability, and embed strong governance and consumer protection. For countries working to strengthen their digital public infrastructure, Nigeria’s experience underscores the value of clear governance structures, sustainable operating models, and strong user-protection mechanisms. It proves that inclusive, high-performing instant payment systems are within reach when institutions collaborate and prioritise consumer needs.
The SIIPS 2025 Report provides detailed analysis of IPS performance across Africa, with data insights, country profiles, and recommendations for strengthening financial inclusion through instant payments.
