OPay denies office closure, says NRS notice affects entire industry

OPay Digital Services Limited has dismissed reports that its offices in Lagos and Abuja were sealed by the Nigeria Revenue Service over alleged non-compliance with tax obligations, describing the claims as false and misleading.

Reports had circulated on social media and online platforms alleging that the NRS sealed OPay’s Lagos and Abuja offices over non-compliance with Value Added Tax and Company Income Tax obligations under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025.

The fintech company said in a statement on Thursday that its offices across Nigeria remain open and fully operational, and that it continues to serve customers, partners and merchants without disruption.

“Our attention has been drawn to recent reports circulating on online platforms and social media claiming that our offices in Lagos and Abuja were sealed by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) over alleged non-compliance with Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025.

“Our offices across Nigeria, including Lagos and Abuja, remain open and fully operational, and we continue to serve our customers, partners, and merchants without disruption.

“As a responsible financial technology company operating in Nigeria, we are compliant with all applicable tax obligations and regulatory requirements. We work closely and transparently with all relevant government agencies and regulatory authorities to ensure that our operations consistently meet statutory standards,” the company’s management said.

OPay said the notice at the centre of the reports arose from an industry-wide directive by the NRS requesting payment platforms to separately display certain statutory charges on their applications to aid reconciliation and transparency.

The company said the directive affected multiple operators across the payment industry and was not directed at OPay alone, adding that suggestions that the notice indicated non-payment of taxes were “factually incorrect and misleading.”

OPay also criticised what it described as the selective singling out of the company in a matter that concerned the broader industry, saying such reporting appeared calculated to damage its reputation.

“The notice referenced in the reports arose from a recent industry-wide directive by the NRS requesting payment platforms to distinctly separate certain statutory charges on their applications for easier reconciliation and transparency.

“This administrative clarification affects multiple operators across the industry, not OPay alone.

“The suggestion that the notice indicates non-payment of taxes is therefore factually incorrect and misleading. Equally troubling is the selective and deliberate singling out of OPay in a matter that concerns the wider industry.

“Such reporting not only distorts the facts but also appears calculated to undermine the reputation of a company that has consistently demonstrated strong compliance, transparency, and cooperation with regulators,” the statement read.

The company said it works closely with all relevant government agencies and regulatory authorities to ensure its operations meet statutory standards, adding that it remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy through secure and inclusive financial services.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the information currently circulating online suggesting that OPay is shutting down or our offices have been shut down should be disregarded, as it does not reflect the true situation.

“OPay remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy by providing secure, reliable, and inclusive financial services to millions of users nationwide,” the statement concluded.