OPay Digital Services Limited has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate a viral social media claim that the fintech company would shut down its operations in Nigeria from September 1, 2026.
The company made the request on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during a press conference in Lagos, where its executives again assured customers that its services remain operational.
OPay’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Dotun Adekunle, said the shutdown claim was false and did not originate from the company.
“OPay is here. OPay is operating, and OPay is going nowhere,” Adekunle said, according to reports from the press briefing.
The rumour began circulating on social media in late August through a purported notice claiming that OPay would go on an indefinite break from September 1, 2026 and would stop processing transactions and account-related services. The post also advised customers to withdraw their funds.
OPay had already dismissed the publication as false and urged customers not to act on unverified information. The company’s operations continued normally on September 1, 2026 and into September 2, 2026.
OPay Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, said the company had formally engaged relevant regulatory, security and law-enforcement authorities over the matter.
He said the DSS and Nigeria Police, among other agencies, were investigating the source and circulation of the false information, while OPay had provided evidence to assist the investigation.
Rokosu said OPay had also commenced legal action against individuals allegedly involved in creating or circulating the material.
“We have one already in court right now,” he said, according to reports of the briefing.
The legal counsel said the company’s response was aimed at protecting customers and confidence in the financial system, rather than silencing legitimate criticism.
OPay said false information concerning a regulated financial institution could trigger unnecessary panic, financial losses and broader concerns about confidence in digital payment services.
The company urged customers to verify operational announcements through its authenticated communication channels and warned against making financial decisions based on unverified social media posts.
The original X user who circulated the shutdown claim has since deleted the post and apologised, according to reporting by The Punch.
The incident highlights the potential consequences of false information targeting financial institutions, particularly where customers may be encouraged to withdraw or transfer funds based on fabricated corporate announcements.
