OPay has reassured customers and merchants that it remains fully operational in Nigeria, dismissing reports circulating on social media that the fintech company planned to suspend or discontinue its services.
The company gave the assurance at a town hall meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, Sept. 2, organised to address what it described as false information claiming that OPay would shut down its Nigerian operations.
The message circulating online had claimed that OPay would stop operating from Sept. 1 and urged customers to withdraw their funds from the platform. OPay said the claim was false and that its services had continued operating normally beyond the alleged shutdown date.
OPay Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Dotun Adekunle said there had been no decision by the company to suspend its operations or place them on indefinite leave.
He urged customers to verify information through the company’s official communication channels before taking financial decisions based on messages shared on social media or messaging platforms.
The company said the Central Bank of Nigeria had also identified the circulating information as fake news. OPay warned that unverified claims concerning financial institutions could create unnecessary fear among customers and merchants and undermine confidence in digital payment services.
OPay Chief Legal Counsel Akinfolabi Rokosu said the company had taken legal steps against individuals and groups allegedly involved in creating and distributing the false information.
Rokosu said OPay had formally engaged relevant regulatory, security and law enforcement authorities, including the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force. He said the agencies were investigating the origin and circulation of the message and that the company had provided evidence to support the investigation.
He added that at least one related case was already before the court, while further legal action would be pursued in accordance with the law.
The legal counsel said the company’s response was not intended to prevent legitimate criticism or scrutiny, but to address what it described as deliberate dissemination of false information capable of harming customers and the company.
The incident has also drawn attention from stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital payments industry, who warned that misinformation involving major financial technology companies could have consequences beyond the affected organisation.
Olalekan Disu, Financial Secretary of the Association of Licensed Mobile Payment Operators, said false information about a major payment operator could weaken public confidence in the wider digital payments ecosystem. He urged customers to rely on verified information from financial institutions and regulators before acting on claims circulating online.
The episode highlights the risks that misinformation poses to digital financial services, particularly in a market where millions of individuals and businesses rely on mobile payment platforms for transfers, bill payments and other daily transactions.
For customers, the company and industry regulators, the incident underscores the importance of rapid verification and clear communication when false reports concern the stability or operations of financial service providers.
OPay said it would continue operating in Nigeria and urged customers and merchants to disregard unverified reports about its operations and rely on official channels for announcements concerning its services.
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