Why Nigerians Are Calling for a PayPal Boycott in 2025/2026

In recent days, social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), have lit up with angry reactions from Nigerians toward PayPal. Calls to boycott the global payment giant are trending, with users posting in all caps: "PLEASE BOYCOTT PAYPAL IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE." Threats to sue local fintechs that partner with PayPal and vows never to use the service again are common. But what’s behind this fierce resistance?

It all stems from PayPal’s announcement of plans to expand into Africa in 2026 through a new initiative called “PayPal World.” This initiative would partner with local fintech companies to connect African digital wallets to PayPal’s global network, enabling cross-border payments and international shopping without requiring a full PayPal account.

On paper, it sounds like a welcome bridge to the global economy. For many Nigerians, however, it’s “too little, too late”—and a painful reminder of years of exclusion.

A Long History of Restrictions

PayPal’s relationship with Nigeria has been rocky for nearly two decades. In the early 2000s, the company imposed heavy restrictions on several sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, citing high risks of fraud linked to stolen credit cards and online scams.

While Nigerians were eventually allowed to open accounts and send payments, receiving funds remained severely restricted or outright impossible for most users. Personal PayPal accounts in Nigeria are still largely “send-only.”

You may want to also read Apply: FG Expand YouthCred Application Form Corpers To All Employed Youths

Freelancers, remote workers, designers, transcriptionists, and small business owners were locked out of opportunities where PayPal was the only payment option. One user shared: “I lost a lot of transcription, survey, and some online jobs because PayPal is the only payment method.”

These limitations persisted despite partial easing over the years, such as brief inflows in 2014/2025 or restricted business account options via payment gateways. Full and seamless access for everyday Nigerians never materialized, effectively locking millions out of the global digital economy.

Nigerians Built Their Own Solutions

While PayPal stayed distant, Nigeria forged ahead. The country’s fintech ecosystem experienced explosive growth. Platforms such as Paystack, Flutterwave, Payoneer, LemFi, Pesa, Moniepoint, and others stepped in, offering better access to international payments, lower fees, and stronger local support.

By 2025, Nigeria hosts over 200 fintech startups processing billions of naira in transactions annually. Online, a common sentiment prevails: “We survived without you. We built our own thing.”

Trust was earned through years of reliability—trust many Nigerians believe PayPal forfeited long ago.

Why Now? And Why the Backlash?

PayPal’s planned 2026 expansion comes as Africa’s young, tech-savvy population and digital economy continue to surge. Critics view the move as opportunistic, suggesting PayPal is only returning after realizing how much revenue it missed.

For many Nigerians, the backlash is about accountability and self-worth. Old wounds are reopened—frozen funds, lost income, and years of exclusion while others advanced.

One commenter summed it up bluntly: “There’s absolutely nothing in this life that can make me use PayPal again.”

Is a Boycott Justified?

PayPal’s return could offer benefits, including broader global access. However, rebuilding trust after nearly two decades of neglect will not be easy.

Nigerians are no longer desperate for inclusion—they now have functional, trusted alternatives. To many, a boycott is a statement: don’t return and act like nothing happened.

In a continent that innovated around obstacles, PayPal’s comeback feels less like progress and more like an afterthought.

As one user put it: “Too late mate, we have moved on.”

What do you think?

Should Nigerians give PayPal another chance, or continue supporting homegrown fintech solutions? The conversation is far from over.