1 Best APIs for Web / In-App Payments in Nigeria

Zone (formerly AppZone) is Africa's first CBN-licensed blockchain-based payment switching and processing company, founded by Obi Emetarom and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2022, Zone became the first blockchain-powered fintech to receive a Payment Switching and Processing License from the Central Bank of Nigeria — a historically significant milestone that validated blockchain technology as a legitimate payment infrastructure layer under Nigerian regulatory oversight. Zone provides banks, fintechs, and financial service providers with simple APIs for processing a broad range of payment transactions through a decentralized blockchain settlement layer. Unlike traditional payment switches (NIBSS, Interswitch) that rely on centralized clearing databases, Zone's blockchain infrastructure creates an immutable, transparent ledger of every settlement — reducing reconciliation disputes and eliminating the need for a trusted central intermediary between participating institutions. The Zone API enables developers to process: account-to-account fund transfers, ATM card withdrawals, POS (Point of Sale) card payments, merchant web and in-app payments, cash-in/cash-out at agent locations, and cross-border remittances. These are the core transaction types that flow through any payment switch — and Zone's blockchain layer provides transparent audit trails for all of them. Currently, Zone is connected to more than 15 of Africa's largest commercial banks. The company's onboarding model is B2B partnership-driven — typically targeting banks, licensed payment service providers, and institutional fintechs rather than individual developers seeking self-service access. Integration is handled through a technical partnership agreement, which reflects the institutional nature of payment switching infrastructure. Zone raised a $8.5 million seed round in March 2024, backed by investors including Flourish Ventures and Speedinvest, to scale its decentralized payment infrastructure across Nigeria and expand to additional African markets. The company's pre-Zone identity as AppZone gave it over a decade of established relationships with Nigerian commercial banks — making it one of the most deeply connected fintech infrastructure companies in Nigeria. Authentication for Zone's developer APIs uses API Key or OAuth credentials obtained through the Zone developer portal. A sandbox environment is available for testing. Given the institutional nature of the product, developer access is typically preceded by a commercial engagement with the Zone team. From a compliance standpoint, Zone holds the CBN Payment Switching and Processing License — the highest-tier payment infrastructure license in Nigeria. This license covers all transaction types processed through the Zone switch. All participating banks and fintechs must themselves hold appropriate CBN licenses for their respective payment activities. Known challenges: Zone's developer portal and self-service documentation are less accessible than consumer-facing gateways like Paystack. The B2B, institution-first model means individual developers cannot simply sign up and start testing. Additionally, the blockchain infrastructure, while innovative, adds a layer of complexity compared to traditional switches — institutions must understand the settlement model before integration. Frequently Asked Questions: Is Zone's blockchain public or private? Zone operates a permissioned blockchain — only CBN-licensed institutions can participate as nodes. It is not a public blockchain like Ethereum or Bitcoin. Can I use Zone as a regular merchant to accept card payments? Zone is a payment switch, not a merchant payment gateway. It provides infrastructure to banks and fintechs, who then offer payment services to merchants. Contact a Zone-connected bank or fintech for merchant payment solutions. How is Zone different from NIBSS? NIBSS is a centralized clearing system owned by all Nigerian banks. Zone is a decentralized, blockchain-based switch that competes with NIBSS's NIP system — offering an alternative routing path for interbank transfers with blockchain-based settlement transparency.