According to the tech giant, under its new partnership, Google would process Verve transactions within Nigeria, and the transactions would be undertaken in naira and treated as local transactions by the country’s banking institutions.

The approval has begun in earnest as Nigerians can now use their Verve cards to make purchases on the Google Play Store.

Commenting on the development, Head of Retail and Payment Partnerships, Google Play, Anthea Crawford, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Verve, expanding Google Play access for more Nigerians.

“The introduction of local payments with Verve cards is a significant milestone, enabling more Nigerians to participate in the app economy and access the apps they need.”

Also commenting, the Managing Director of Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude, added: “The integration with Google Play is a significant stride towards achieving Verve’s vision of promoting financial inclusion. We are excited to bring digital content and services closer to Verve cardholders, hence bridging the digital divide.”

It would be recalled that before now, Nigerian debit cards did not work on Google Play Store because of a federal law regarding restrictions on FX transactions.