We've analyzed and compared the top 2 API providers supporting Merchant for Nigerian developers and businesses. Find the right infrastructure fit for your startup below.
Written by Editorial Staffs as at 5th August, 2026
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VFD Tech is the technology subsidiary of VFD Group Plc, a Lagos-based diversified financial holding company listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). VFD Tech provides Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) infrastructure through its VBaaS platform, powered in collaboration with VFD Microfinance Bank Limited — a CBN-licensed microfinance bank that is also part of the VFD Group ecosystem. The VBaaS platform enables fintechs, lenders, savings platforms, and non-bank financial companies to embed banking products into their applications without obtaining their own banking license. The VFD Tech BaaS API documentation is available at vbaas-docs.vfdtech.ng. Authentication is handled via Access Tokens generated through the VBaaS portal at vbaas.vfdtech.ng. Developers access their sandbox environment at vbaas-dev.vfdtech.ng. The portal provides a controlled, structured onboarding process — unlike pure self-service gateways, BaaS access may require completing a partnership application with the VFD Tech team. The VBaaS Wallets API is the core product. It enables platforms to create and manage digital wallets for their users, with each wallet backed by a VFD Microfinance Bank account. This means wallet balances are held in a CBN-licensed, NDIC-insured bank — not in a non-bank payment processor's float. Wallet operations include: create wallet, credit/debit wallet, check balance, retrieve transaction history, and transfer between wallets. The Loans API enables fintech platforms to originate and manage loan products through the VFD BaaS infrastructure. This is a significant product for Nigerian digital lenders that want to offer credit products without holding a separate money lending license — by partnering with VFD Microfinance Bank as the licensed lender. Loan disbursements go directly into borrower wallets or bank accounts. The Direct Debit / Debit Mandates API enables platforms to set up recurring debit authorizations on customer bank accounts. Customers authorize a standing mandate, and the platform can trigger automatic debits on a defined schedule — ideal for loan repayment collection, subscription billing, and cooperative savings deductions. The Bills Payment API provides access to Nigerian utility and VAS services: electricity (NERC-licensed DISCOs), airtime (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile), data bundles, cable TV (DStv, GOtv), and other billers. Platforms can let users pay bills directly from their VFD BaaS-powered wallets. Additional features include: QR Code payment generation and processing, POS infrastructure integration, and a Liveness Check API for identity verification during onboarding. From a compliance standpoint, VFD Microfinance Bank is CBN-licensed and NDIC-insured. All customer funds in VFD BaaS wallets benefit from NDIC deposit insurance coverage. The VBaaS platform inherits VFD Microfinance Bank's regulatory standing — a key advantage over non-bank BaaS providers. VFD Group Plc's diversified portfolio (which includes asset management, securities trading, insurance, and real estate in addition to microfinance banking and technology) gives VFD Tech a stable institutional foundation. The company is publicly listed on NGX, providing additional transparency and accountability. Pricing for VFD Tech BaaS is not publicly listed. Rates are transaction-based and negotiated during the partnership onboarding process. Developers can request a demo and pricing quotation through the VBaaS portal. Frequently Asked Questions: Can I build a lending product without a money lending license? VFD Tech's Loans API is powered by VFD Microfinance Bank, a licensed lender. Depending on your product structure, you may be able to offer credit products through VFD BaaS as an agent/partner without your own license — but legal advice is recommended for your specific use case. Are customer wallets protected by NDIC? Yes — funds in wallets backed by VFD Microfinance Bank are covered by NDIC deposit insurance up to the applicable limit.
RexPay is a Nigerian payment gateway solution developed by Global Accelerex Limited, a leading electronic payment and business management solutions company operating in Nigeria and West Africa. Global Accelerex holds both a CBN Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) certification and a CBN Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP) certification — a dual certification that covers online payment processing and POS terminal management respectively. This makes Global Accelerex one of the few Nigerian companies with both licenses, giving RexPay institutional-grade credibility as a payment infrastructure partner. The RexPay API is RESTful with JSON payloads. Documentation is available at rexpay-docs.globalaccelerex.com. Authentication uses an API Key obtained from the RexPay merchant dashboard. Developers initialize payment transactions by sending a POST request with the amount and transaction reference, then display the RexPay checkout to the customer. RexPay supports three payment channels in Nigeria: card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Verve with 3D Secure / 2FA verification), internet banking transfers (bank-to-bank transfers via the customer's internet banking), and USSD (for customers on basic mobile phones without internet access). This covers the three primary payment behaviors of Nigerian consumers: card users, mobile banking users, and USSD users. For WordPress-based e-commerce stores, RexPay provides a WooCommerce plugin that can be installed directly from the WordPress plugin directory. This no-code integration allows Nigerian merchants to add RexPay checkout without writing a single line of code — simply install, configure the API key from the dashboard, and payments start flowing. Pricing for RexPay starts from $0 per month, indicating no mandatory platform fee. Transaction fees are commission-based and negotiated during merchant onboarding. The exact percentage rates are not published publicly but are competitive with other Nigerian gateways. The $0/month model makes RexPay accessible to small businesses and startups that cannot commit to monthly subscription fees. The sandbox environment allows full testing of all payment channels. Moving to live requires completing the Global Accelerex KYC process, which involves submitting CAC documents, director BVN, and business bank account information. From a compliance standpoint, Global Accelerex is CBN-certified under both the PSSP and PTSP frameworks, meaning that all payment transactions processed through RexPay meet CBN regulatory standards. PCI-DSS compliance ensures card data is handled and stored securely. RexPay is a focused Nigeria-only payment gateway — it does not currently support international payment corridors or other African countries. This is a trade-off that simplifies compliance but limits its usefulness for businesses with pan-African payment needs. Known challenges: RexPay's documentation and developer community are smaller than Paystack or Flutterwave. Advanced features like split payments, virtual accounts, and recurring billing are not currently supported. International card acceptance (for non-Nigerian Visa/Mastercard holders) may have limitations. Frequently Asked Questions: What is Global Accelerex? Global Accelerex is the parent company of RexPay. It is one of Nigeria's oldest e-payment companies, providing POS terminals, payment switches, and software solutions to Nigerian banks and enterprises since the early 2000s. Does RexPay work with WooCommerce? Yes — a WooCommerce plugin is available that allows Nigerian WordPress store owners to accept payments through RexPay without any coding. Can I use RexPay for B2B corporate payments? Yes — RexPay supports internet banking transfers, which is the preferred payment method for Nigerian corporate clients making large business-to-business payments.