By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 3, 2026
Key Points
- OPay has denied claims that it plans to shut down its Nigerian operations.
- The fintech company has commenced legal action against individuals allegedly responsible for circulating the false announcement.
- OPay said it has engaged the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police and other relevant regulatory and security agencies.
- The company said its services remain fully operational across Nigeria.
- OPay disclosed that it opened more than 26 new offices across the country in 2026.
- The company warned Nigerians against relying on unverified information circulated on social media.
Main Story
Financial technology company OPay has reassured Nigerians that it has no plans to shut down or exit the Nigerian market, following the circulation of a false announcement claiming that the company would cease operations from September 1, 2026, The company made the clarification during a live town hall meeting organised on Wednesday after the alleged shutdown notice triggered concerns among customers and other stakeholders on social media.
The meeting brought together journalists, OPay ambassadors and social media influencers as the company sought to address the misinformation and reassure customers, merchants and business partners that its platform remains operational, Speaking during the event, OPay’s Chief Technology Officer, Dotun Daniel Adekunle, said the company was concerned about the potential consequences of misinformation on Nigerians who rely on its platform for financial services.
Adekunle said financial technology companies operating within the financial inclusion ecosystem have a responsibility to maintain public confidence, warning that the spread of unverified information could undermine trust and potentially expose customers to financial risks, He stated that OPay remained fully committed to Nigeria and had no decision to suspend its operations.
“OPay is here, OPay is operating, and OPay is going nowhere. The message circulating is false. There is no decision to shut down operations in Nigeria,” Adekunle said, He urged customers to disregard any message suggesting that OPay was going on leave or preparing to exit the country.
Adekunle also highlighted the company’s continued expansion in Nigeria, noting that OPay had opened more than 26 new offices across the country during 2026, “This year alone, we opened over 26 new offices across Nigeria, and our teams are on the ground,” he said.
The Issues
The controversy arose after a message circulated on social media purporting to be an official communication from OPay and claiming that the fintech company would shut down its Nigerian operations from September 1, 2026, The company said the message did not originate from OPay and was designed to appear as an authentic corporate announcement.
OPay argued that misinformation of this nature could have serious consequences for a financial institution, particularly if customers act on false information by withdrawing funds, abandoning accounts or making other financial decisions based on the fabricated announcement, The incident also highlights the wider risks posed by misinformation within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital financial services sector, where millions of customers depend on fintech platforms for payments, transfers and other financial transactions.
What’s Being Said
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, said the company had formally contacted relevant regulatory, law enforcement and security agencies over the publication, According to Rokosu, the company has provided evidence to the authorities investigating the matter and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
He said the alleged publication had the potential to create fear, cause financial losses and undermine confidence in OPay, Rokosu also confirmed that OPay had commenced legal proceedings against those allegedly responsible for the false information, “This is not about silencing anyone. No individual should believe social media provides immunity from legal consequences where there is evidence of unlawful conduct,” he said, The legal counsel further argued that freedom of expression does not protect malicious falsehoods or deliberate attempts to cause financial harm.
What’s Next
OPay is expected to continue cooperating with the relevant security and law enforcement agencies as investigations into the source and circulation of the alleged false announcement proceed, The company has also urged customers to rely on its official communication channels and other credible sources when verifying information concerning its operations, For OPay, the immediate priority is to restore and maintain confidence among customers, merchants, agents and business partners following the social media controversy.
Bottom Line
OPay has firmly rejected claims that it is preparing to shut down its Nigerian operations, describing the purported September 1 shutdown announcement as false, With the company confirming that it remains operational, opening new offices and pursuing legal action against those allegedly behind the misinformation, OPay is positioning the incident as a matter of protecting customer confidence and the integrity of Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem.
