Transactpay Merchants Can Now Accept American Express Payments in Nigeria

For years, one sentence has ended more transactions in Nigeria than any network failure ever did: “Sorry, we don’t take that card.”

If you run a hotel, restaurant, or store, you have probably said it to an international guest holding an American Express card. If you have ever travelled into Nigeria with an Amex in your wallet, you have almost certainly heard it. From today, Transactpay merchants no longer have to say it. American Express acceptance is now live across the Transactpay network, and any Nigerian business on Transactpay can take Amex payments alongside Visa, Mastercard, Verve, bank transfers, and QR.

Why American Express has been hard to use in Nigeria

American Express runs on its own network, separate from the rails that carry most card payments in Nigeria. Because acceptance requires a connection to that network, most Nigerian payment processors and POS terminals have historically supported only Visa, Mastercard, and Verve. The result was a strange gap in one of Africa’s largest economies: millions of Amex cardholders worldwide, including business travellers, tourists, and Nigerians in the diaspora, arriving in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt with a card that worked almost nowhere.

That gap was more than an inconvenience. It pushed international guests toward cash, added friction at hotel front desks and restaurant tables, and quietly cost Nigerian businesses revenue from some of their highest-spending customers.

What is changing

Transactpay has connected its payment infrastructure to the American Express network. That means every payment surface Transactpay offers, from physical QR terminals to online checkout, can now authorise and settle Amex transactions. Your guests scan or pay online the way they always do, and your money settles into your Transactpay account alongside every other payment method, reconciled on the same dashboard.

There is no separate device to buy and no separate account to open. If you are already a Transactpay merchant, Amex acceptance can be enabled on the account you have today.

What this means for hotels, restaurants, and retailers

The businesses that feel this change first are the ones serving international customers. Hotels can check out foreign guests without the awkward hunt for an alternative card or a nearby ATM. Restaurants can close bills at the table on the first try. Retailers, galleries, spas, and travel companies can serve high-value customers with the payment method those customers actually prefer, because Amex cardholders are known for spending more per transaction than the average cardholder.

For a business, that translates into fewer abandoned payments, shorter queues, better reviews, and access to a customer segment that was previously walking out the door.

What this means for Amex cardholders in Nigeria

If you are visiting Nigeria, returning home for the holidays, or relocating back, your American Express card now works at any business that runs on Transactpay. Look out for the Amex acceptance mark at checkout, or simply ask whether the business is a Transactpay merchant. Acceptance will keep expanding as more Nigerian businesses join the network.

How to start accepting American Express with Transactpay

Getting set up takes minutes. Create a free merchant account at app.transactpay.ai/sign-up, complete your business verification, and enable Amex acceptance from your dashboard. If you are an existing Transactpay merchant, log in and switch on American Express under your payment methods. Transactpay plans scale from small businesses to enterprise, so whether you run a boutique guesthouse or a multi-outlet hotel group, there is a tier that fits.

Transactpay is operated by Transactworld Digital Services Nigeria Limited and licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, so every transaction, in every currency and on every network, runs on regulated, secure infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

Does Nigeria accept American Express?

Historically, American Express acceptance in Nigeria has been very limited. That is now changing: businesses on the Transactpay network can accept Amex payments in person and online, making Amex usable at a growing number of hotels, restaurants, and stores across Nigeria.

Which Payment Terminals in Nigeria accepts Amex?

Transactpay QR terminals now accept American Express, alongside Visa, Mastercard, Verve, bank transfers, and mobile payments (OPay and PalmPay). Any business using Transactpay can enable Amex acceptance from its merchant dashboard.

Can my business accept American Express online in Nigeria?

Yes. Transactpay’s online checkout supports American Express, so e-commerce stores, booking engines, and payment links can all take Amex payments from customers anywhere in the world.

How do I enable Amex on my Transactpay account?

Sign in to your Transactpay dashboard and enable American Express under payment methods. New businesses can create an account at app.transactpay.ai/sign-up and enable it during setup.

Is Transactpay licensed?

Yes. Transactpay is a payments platform operated by Transactworld Digital Services Nigeria Limited and licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Ready to stop saying “we don’t take that one”?
Create your Transactpay merchant account and start accepting American Express today.