Digital payment operator OPay issued an official statement dismissing online rumours claiming an impending regulatory shutdown of its mobile banking services, assuring users that operations remain fully compliant and uninterrupted. The company described the viral notice as “false, malicious and misleading” .
The fabricated publication, which circulated widely across social media and messaging platforms, was presented as an “Official Note” from OPay Digital Services Limited and claimed that the fintech would suspend operations from September 1, 2026 . The notice advised customers to remove their funds from their OPay accounts “as soon as possible” to avoid inconvenience, triggering panic withdrawals .
OPay via its X handle quickly dismissed the claim, stating: “This is false. OPay is not going on break by September. We are here, and we are going nowhere!” . The company urged customers to scrutinise the viral publication and rely on verified communication channels for official information .
OPay’s Vice President of Public and Government Affairs, Dr Maxwell Loko, warned that the deliberate spread of false information capable of causing panic could have legal consequences . “This post is false, malicious and misleading. OPay is not shutting down, and customers should not be misled into withdrawing their funds based on fabricated information,” he said .
The company stressed that it operates as a licensed institution regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, with customer deposits insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation . OPay has previously dismissed similar rumours in March 2026 over alleged tax violations, clarifying that an industry-wide directive from the Nigeria Revenue Service regarding the display of statutory charges was not evidence of the company being shut down .
The repeated circulation of such claims has the potential to cause unnecessary panic among the millions of Nigerians who use digital financial platforms for transfers, payments and savings . The company urged customers to exercise caution when encountering financial or operational claims online and to verify such information through authenticated platforms before taking any action .
The winners: OPay, which has quickly dismissed the rumours; and Nigerian consumers, who have been reassured about the safety of their funds. The losers: those who spread the false information; and the Nigerian public, who must navigate an environment of misinformation.
Bottom Line: OPay says the shutdown rumours are false. The fintech is fully compliant. The question is whether the rumours will stop or the misinformation will continue.