Google has announced that Nigerians can now pay directly in naira, while conducting transactions on the Google Play Store.

This comes as a result of a partnership with Verve, the largest domestic card scheme in Africa, aiming to enhance accessibility to digital transactions for Nigerians.

With this update, users in Nigeria can make purchases on the Google Play Store using their Verve cards, strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem.The collaboration comes at a favorable time for Nigerians, as banks are facing challenges meeting forex demands for international payments.

By processing Verve transactions within Nigeria and accepting payments in Naira, Google’s initiative provides relief for users buying apps from the Google Store.

The move is seen as a significant milestone, fostering financial inclusion and enabling more Nigerians to participate in the app economy while simplifying the payment process for Google Play Store services and contributing to a more inclusive digital environment in the country.

Commenting on the development, Anthea Crawford, Head of Retail and Payment Partner said:

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Verve, expanding Google Play access for more Nigerians. The introduction of local payments with Verve cards is a significant milestone, enabling more Nigerians to participate in the app economy and access the apps they need.”

On his part, the Managing Director of Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude stated that the integration with Google Play is a significant stride towards achieving Verve’s vision of promoting financial inclusion.

“We are excited to bring digital content and services closer to Verve cardholders, hence bridging the digital divide. As a foremost payment card scheme in Nigeria, Verve’s expanding acceptance promotes inclusion by extending the reach of digital services to a larger segment of the Nigerian population. Maximizing this exciting possibility, users can now add their Verve Cards to their Google Play Account and pay in Naira, without stress.” he said.