NIP Achieves Africa’s Highest Instant Payment System Rating, Puts Nigeria at the Top of Digital Payments
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Nigeria’s NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) has earned the highest recognition on the African Instant Payment System (IPS) landscape, placing the country firmly at the forefront of digital payments on the continent.
NIP has been officially named Africa’s first Instant Payment System to reach the “Mature” level on AfricaNenda’s IPS Inclusivity Spectrum. This is the peak classification in a framework that assesses inclusion, governance, accessibility and user experience across three tiers: Basic, Progressed and Mature.
The recognition was announced at the launch of the State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (SIIPS) in Africa 2025 Report, held from 12–14 November 2025 in Ezulwini, Eswatini. The event gathered about 200 delegates, including central bank governors, instant payment operators, regulators, fintech leaders and global stakeholders shaping Africa’s digital payments agenda.
According to a statement from Lilian Phido, Head of Corporate Communications at NIBSS, the Mature rating reflects NIP’s strong governance, broad inclusivity, reliable infrastructure and consumer-first approach. NIP’s success is rooted in an ecosystem that allows participation from banks, fintechs and non-bank institutions; a robust dispute-resolution structure; real-time settlement; simple onboarding for underserved segments; and a resilient technology framework that ensures high uptime and smooth transaction processing.
Commenting on the achievement, Premier Oiwoh, managing director and CEO of NIBSS, said the recognition validates a shared national vision. He noted that the award highlights Nigeria’s commitment to delivering fast, affordable, safe and interoperable payment infrastructure that supports inclusive economic growth across the country and the continent.
For more than 14 years, the NIBSS Instant Payment platform has transformed Nigeria’s payment landscape. It is regarded globally as the first of its kind, serving as a benchmark that continues to influence payment modernisation across other markets. Expanding on this innovation trail, NIBSS has also developed the National Payment Stack (NPS), Africa’s first ISO 20022-compliant national payment infrastructure. NPS will eventually replace NIP, enabling smarter, more secure, data-rich and interoperable payments nationwide.
NIBSS also acknowledged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for consistent policy support and regulatory leadership, which have strengthened the country’s payments industry and expanded financial inclusion.
The SIIPS recognition aligns with standards set by global institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and BIS. By achieving the Mature rating, NIP now stands among global payment infrastructures that meet high benchmarks for interoperability, security and inclusivity.
As NIBSS continues to drive digital payments across Nigeria, the achievement represents a collective win for banks, fintechs, payment providers and all stakeholders connected to the NIP ecosystem. It reinforces Nigeria’s position as a payments leader and sets a strong foundation for Africa’s digital financial future.
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