4 Best APIs for Payment Link Generation in Nigeria

RoutePay Fintech Limited is a Nigerian payment technology company that received its Full Operating Licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) on January 12, 2023 — making it one of the newer entrants to Nigeria's regulated payment gateway space. The company is also certified by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for Value-Added Services, giving it a dual regulatory standing that covers both financial payments and telecoms-adjacent services like airtime and data transactions. Headquartered in Victoria Island, Lagos (Africa Re House, Plot 1679 Karimu Kotun Street), RoutePay operates under the leadership of CEO Abayomi Olomu and Group Managing Director Femi Adeoti (former MD of Inlaks). The company is registered as RoutePay Fintech Limited (RC 1872221) and uniquely owns a licensed microfinance bank subsidiary — Routelink Microfinance Bank Limited (RC 8836108) — enabling it to offer embedded merchant credit alongside payment processing, a rare combination in Nigeria's payment gateway landscape. **Omnichannel Payment Infrastructure** RoutePay is built as a truly omnichannel payment platform — not just an online gateway, but a complete payments infrastructure that covers every channel Nigerian consumers and businesses transact on: - **Web**: Browser-based checkout integration for e-commerce and business websites - **Mobile**: SDK and API integration for iOS and Android apps - **POS**: Physical terminal support for retail and hospitality merchants - **ATM**: ATM payment routing for cash-based and card-based transactions - **USSD**: Short code-based payment acceptance for feature phone users and financial inclusion scenarios This breadth of channels makes RoutePay particularly valuable for businesses that operate across both digital and physical environments, or for government institutions that need to serve citizens regardless of smartphone availability. **Core Payment Features** RoutePay supports card payments (debit and credit — Visa, Mastercard, Verve), direct bank transfers, USSD codes, QR code payments, and payment link generation. The payment link feature is specifically designed for social media sellers and informal businesses that take orders via WhatsApp, Instagram, or phone — allowing them to collect payments without a dedicated website. **Bill Payments API** Beyond payment acceptance, RoutePay provides a bill payments module covering: airtime top-up for all Nigerian mobile networks (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile), mobile data purchases, DSTV/GOtv/Startimes cable TV subscription renewals, and PHCN/DISCOs electricity prepaid token purchases. This module enables developers to build super-apps and lifestyle platforms with embedded utility payment capabilities. **Merchant Micro-loans via Routelink MFB** One of RoutePay's most distinctive features is its integration with Routelink Microfinance Bank. Merchants who process payments through RoutePay become eligible for micro-loans whose terms are informed by their transaction history and payment volumes on the platform. This provides Nigerian SMEs with access to working capital financing without the collateral requirements and bureaucratic overhead of traditional bank loans — the loan eligibility is earned through demonstrated business activity rather than pre-existing credit history. **Government & Institutional Payments** RoutePay explicitly targets government and public sector clients, enabling tax collection, licensing fee payment, regulatory fee submission, and institutional disbursements. The USSD channel support is particularly valuable here — it allows citizens in areas with limited internet access to make payments to government agencies using any mobile phone. **Security Architecture** RoutePay implements bank-grade AES encryption across all transactions, combined with two-factor authentication (2FA) for account access and a real-time fraud monitoring system. Auto-reversal protocols ensure that failed transactions are automatically reversed without manual intervention. The platform also offers account freeze capability for security incidents. **Tiered KYC System** RoutePay implements a Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3 KYC model for individual users, consistent with CBN's tiered KYC framework for digital financial services. Higher tiers unlock larger transaction limits — Tier 1 requires minimal information (BVN linkage), while Tier 2 and Tier 3 require progressively more documentation (government ID, address proof, enhanced verification). This tiered approach enables financial inclusion while managing regulatory compliance. **Authentication & API Access** RoutePay provides API access for developers through its developer portal. API credentials are issued after completing merchant KYC/onboarding. The API follows REST conventions with JSON request/response formats. For developer documentation and API access, developers can visit routepay.com/developers or contact sales@routepay.com. **Pricing** RoutePay charges no monthly maintenance fees. Transaction fees are per-transaction at industry-standard rates, with full transparency on charges — no hidden fees. Specific fee percentages are provided during merchant onboarding rather than published on the website. Micro-loan terms are governed separately by Routelink MFB's lending policies. **Challenges for Nigerian Developers** RoutePay's public developer documentation is less detailed than market leaders like Paystack or Flutterwave, and specific API specifications, authentication details, and rate limits are not publicly documented — requiring developer outreach to access. Recurring/subscription billing is not a documented product feature. For businesses that primarily need a straightforward online payment gateway with comprehensive public documentation, larger platforms may offer a smoother developer experience. **Frequently Asked Questions** Q: Is RoutePay licensed by the CBN? A: Yes. RoutePay holds a CBN PSSP Full Operating Licence granted January 12, 2023. Q: Does RoutePay support USSD payments? A: Yes — USSD is one of RoutePay's five supported payment channels, enabling payments from any Nigerian mobile phone. Q: What makes RoutePay unique compared to Paystack or Flutterwave? A: RoutePay's key differentiators are its omnichannel coverage (including ATM and USSD), its institutional/government payment capabilities, and its embedded micro-loan product through Routelink MFB. Q: Can my business get a loan through RoutePay? A: Merchants processing payments on RoutePay become eligible for micro-loans from Routelink MFB — eligibility and terms are based on transaction volume and history on the platform. Q: Does RoutePay have a sandbox for testing? A: Contact RoutePay's developer team at routepay.com/developers or sales@routepay.com for sandbox access details.

SPay Business Solutions Ltd is a Nigerian payment technology company offering a streamlined payment gateway designed specifically for Nigerian businesses, SMEs, freelancers, and service providers who need to accept online payments without complex infrastructure. Operating under the tagline "Payment Simplified!", SPay focuses on making payment collection accessible to businesses of all sizes — from solo freelancers generating payment links to online stores integrating a full checkout API. **What SPay Does** SPay provides a payment processing platform with four core capabilities: online payment acceptance, virtual account creation, payment link generation, and subscription/recurring billing management. These services are accessible via a RESTful API documented through readme.io, as well as via the SPay merchant dashboard for non-technical users who need payment links without coding. **Payment Acceptance API** SPay's payment API allows merchants to initiate payment sessions, redirect customers to a hosted payment page or embed a checkout widget, and receive payment confirmation via webhooks. The API handles both card payments and bank transfer acceptance, giving merchants multiple collection channels in a single integration. Standard REST API conventions are followed, with responses in JSON format and test payment tools provided for developer integration testing. **Virtual Accounts via First Bank of Nigeria** One of SPay's distinguishing features is its integration with First Bank of Nigeria for virtual account issuance. Merchants can programmatically create unique Nigerian bank account numbers (virtual accounts) that are tied to a specific customer or transaction. When a customer makes a bank transfer to the virtual account, SPay detects the payment in real time and notifies the merchant via webhook — enabling seamless bank transfer payment collection without manual reconciliation. This is particularly valuable for Nigerian consumers who prefer bank transfers over card payments. **Payment Links** SPay allows merchants to generate shareable payment links from the dashboard or via API — links that customers can open in a browser to complete a payment. This makes SPay accessible to businesses without a website, allowing freelancers, event organizers, and service businesses to collect payments via WhatsApp, email, or social media with zero code required. **Subscription & Recurring Billing** For SaaS products, membership platforms, schools, and subscription boxes, SPay offers a recurring billing module that handles automated charge schedules on weekly, monthly, or annual cycles. Merchants set up subscription plans, customers authorize the recurring payment, and SPay manages the billing cycle, retry logic for failed payments, and subscription lifecycle events. **Authentication** SPay uses API key-based authentication. Merchants receive API credentials (public key and secret key) after completing the merchant onboarding and KYC process on the SPay dashboard. API keys are passed in request headers for all API calls. Test mode credentials are provided separately and can be used to test integrations without processing real transactions. **Merchant Onboarding & KYC** To go live on SPay, merchants must complete a KYC process that includes providing business registration details (CAC certificate), bank account information for settlement, and identity verification for directors. This is standard practice for all Nigerian payment gateways operating under CBN regulatory requirements. Developers and businesses can test the API with test credentials before completing KYC — making it easy to build and validate integrations before going live. **Sandbox / Test Environment** SPay provides test payment capabilities for developers to simulate transactions and validate integrations without real money movement. The documentation on readme.io includes response codes and test scenarios. **Pricing** SPay uses a commission-based pricing model — merchants pay a percentage of each transaction processed. Specific fee percentages are not publicly listed on the website; merchants receive a pricing schedule upon completing merchant onboarding. No publicly advertised monthly subscription fee has been found. **Nigeria Context & Regulatory Standing** SPay is a Nigeria-focused payment company serving Nigerian merchants under CBN payment regulations. Banking partner arrangements, including the First Bank virtual account integration, operate within Nigeria's licensed payment infrastructure. SPay is suitable for Nigerian businesses that want a simpler, more focused payment solution compared to the complexity of larger platforms like Paystack or Flutterwave — particularly for businesses that primarily need virtual accounts and payment links rather than a full payments ecosystem. **Challenges for Nigerian Developers** SPay is a smaller gateway with fewer integrations and ecosystem tools compared to market leaders like Paystack or Flutterwave. The public documentation, while functional, is not as comprehensive or community-supported as larger platforms. Bulk payout/transfer capabilities, USSD payments, and POS integration are not available in the current product offering. International card acceptance (non-NGN) is also not documented as a supported feature. **Frequently Asked Questions** Q: Does SPay support USSD payments? A: No. SPay currently supports card payments and bank transfers via virtual accounts — not USSD. Q: Can I use SPay without a registered business (CAC)? A: A CAC-registered business is required for production access. Developers can test with sandbox credentials before completing KYC. Q: How are virtual accounts created through SPay? A: Virtual accounts are issued in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria via the SPay API — each account receives a unique Nigerian bank account number that customers can transfer to. Q: Does SPay support international payments? A: SPay is primarily focused on NGN payments for Nigerian customers. International card acceptance is not a documented feature. Q: Is there a recurring billing feature? A: Yes — SPay includes a subscription management module for automated recurring billing on daily, weekly, monthly, or annual schedules.

Busha Commerce API is the developer platform for Busha, Nigeria's leading regulated cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2019. While global exchanges like Binance and Coinbase face regulatory friction and account restrictions in Nigeria, Busha operates as a Nigerian-registered entity, holds all required local licences, and is fully compliant with Nigerian financial regulations. This makes Busha the most trusted and legally reliable option for Nigerian businesses that want to accept cryptocurrency payments, provide crypto trading services, or build crypto-powered products for Nigerian users. The Busha Commerce API specifically targets Nigerian merchants and developers who need crypto payment acceptance with Nigerian Naira settlement. Nigeria's digital economy is growing rapidly, but Nigerian businesses face persistent challenges with conventional payment infrastructure: card declines on international transactions, Forex restrictions limiting dollar-denominated purchases, and high remittance fees. Cryptocurrency — particularly USDT (a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar) — has emerged as a practical alternative for Nigerians making and receiving international payments. Busha Commerce bridges the gap between crypto payments and the Nigerian Naira banking system, enabling merchants to accept crypto from customers anywhere in the world and receive NGN in their bank accounts. The payment workflow is straightforward. A Nigerian merchant creates a payment request via the API, specifying the amount in NGN or a crypto asset. Busha returns a payment address (or QR code) and a unique payment ID. The merchant displays this to the customer. When the customer sends crypto to that address, Busha detects the blockchain transaction, converts it to NGN at the current exchange rate (if NGN settlement is selected), and delivers a webhook notification to the merchant's server confirming the payment. The merchant can then fulfill the order knowing the NGN equivalent has been credited to their Busha balance. Exchange rate endpoints provide real-time NGN/BTC, NGN/ETH, and NGN/USDT rates based on Busha's live market rates. These rates reflect the actual rates at which Busha will settle payments — not third-party price data — ensuring Nigerian merchants display accurate expected payment amounts to their customers. The rates include Busha's exchange margin, so what the merchant sees is what they will receive. Webhook notifications are the backbone of the payment detection system. When a payment is received and confirmed on-chain, Busha sends an HTTP POST to the merchant's configured webhook URL with full payment details: amount paid, asset type, exchange rate applied, NGN value, and transaction status. The webhook payload is signed with a secret key so merchants can verify it genuinely came from Busha. This event-driven architecture means Nigerian merchant backends respond immediately to payments without polling. For Nigerian freelancers and service providers, Busha Commerce enables a particularly useful workflow: generate a shareable payment link for a specific invoice amount, send it to an international client, receive USDT payment from anywhere in the world, and settle to NGN via Busha's banking integration. This circumvents the delays and fees of international wire transfers and the restrictions that Nigerian bank accounts sometimes face on receiving foreign currency. The sandbox environment allows Nigerian developers to test the complete payment flow — creating test payment requests, simulating test payments, and receiving test webhook events — without using real cryptocurrency. This makes integration development safe and fast. Busha requires business KYC verification including CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) registration documents for merchant accounts — consistent with Nigerian financial compliance requirements. API keys are generated after verification in the Busha developer dashboard.