Since the day of ecommerce, Nigerian internet users suffered discrimination. Due to activities of internet fraud by a tiny percentage of the populace, Nigerians have suffered stigmatization from international ecommerce Platforms and internet companies.
If you have ever tried to buy a book, an online course or pay for any service online where PayPal is the only means of payment, you’ll understand how frustrating this has been.
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However, on Tuesday PayPal finally decided to open the doors – half way – to Nigerians and nine other countries.
Other countries includes; Belarus, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and Paraguay.
With an estimated 60 million internet users according to statistics from Euromonitor, Nigeria holds the biggest potential market for PayPal, among the newly integrated countries.
What this means is that, you can now register, own and operate a PayPal account in Nigeria and as a Nigeria without the need to hide your identity.
But there are still restrictions.
For now you cannot receive money with your Nigerian registered PayPal account. You can only make purchases online, after you have verified your account with your bank debit card.
According to Rupert Keeley, PayPal’s Vice President for the EMEA region, PayPal will not launch all of its services in these news markets. The company will only start off with the ‘send money’ feature, allowing customers to make payments to pre-approved international sites.
I think, this is still a step forward and will make live a bit easier for Nigerian internet users. As we look forward to went the full service will be available.
For now, you can pay for those courses that have been exclusive to people outside Nigeria, and continue developing your skills. You can pay for software, ebooks and other digital products and services with ease.
That’s one step ahead.
What is PayPal?
PayPal is a global ecommerce business allowing payment and money transfers to be made through the internet.
