ZitraPay provides a fintech-driven platform offering compliant FX, fund repatriation and treasury management for Nigerian SMEs amid currency and settlement constraints.
Tackling Nigeria’s Liquidity Bottleneck
Nigerian businesses have long grappled with scarce access to foreign currency and constrained treasury-services capability. Into this environment steps ZitraPay (site), positioning itself as a solution provider for corporate clients needing timely FX access, cross-border settlement, and treasury oversight. The platform enables companies to quickly source US dollars, repatriate funds, manage treasury without restrictions, and trade across borders.
“Other fintechs provide FX services, but very few focus on underserved SMEs and mid-sized businesses locked out of direct bank supply,” ZitraPay’s founder and CEO Teniola Tayo-Olugbode said. “ZitraPay differentiates itself by combining speed, trust, and compliance for this market segment.
Offering a Compliant Alternative to Parallel FX Markets
Many Nigerian firms resort to informal FX channels or face delays in bank-mediated FX access and funds repatriation. ZitraPay enables businesses to operate in a regulated environment, steering clear of the risks associated with informal operators. Nigerian businesses often resort to alternative means of FX and transfers, given the delays commonly imposed by local banks. ZitraPay aims to provide a “compliant and transparent alternative to the black market” for foreign-exchange access.
Since its launch this summer, ZitraPay has already processed over $1 million in transactions and is targeting $10 million by the first quarter of 2026.
“Banks are slow, bureaucratic, and restrictive, while parallel market operators are risky, opaque, and unsuitable for wire transfers,” said Tayo-Olugbode.
Core Services: FX Sourcing, Treasury Management and Fund Repatriation
At its core, ZitraPay offers a suite of treasury-adjacent services designed for Nigerian SMEs and mid-sized businesses:
- Accessing U.S. dollars and other major currencies to support imports, supplier payments and global trade.
- Repatriating funds internationally in a regulated manner, avoiding informal settlement channels.
- Providing liquidity buffers and treasury insight so corporate clients can manage cash-flow, currency-risk and cross-border payment cycles more predictably.
In short: the platform helps restore financial agility in a currency and regulatory environment characterized by volatility and constraint.
Significance for African Trade and Investment
For companies, investors and policymakers operating across Africa, this model is particularly timely. Nigerian businesses dealing with imports, exports and global payments often face obstacles because of FX tightness and settlement hurdles. ZitraPay’s model offers a conduit that eases dollar access, lowers treasurial friction and bolsters cross-border trust, all foundational for deeper trade and investment flows.
Outlook: Scaling, Compliance and Navigating Regulatory Complexity
As ZitraPay grows, key success factors will include maintaining regulatory compliance, scaling liquidity networks, and managing currency-risk in an environment where foreign-exchange bottlenecks persist. The platform’s early traction suggests it may serve as a blueprint for fintech-enabled treasury innovation in Africa’s frontier markets. Its capacity to enable businesses to “trade globally without the delays and restrictions imposed by traditional banks” speaks directly to the needs of regional and international investors seeking operational stability.
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