Is the eNaira still used?
Barely. The CBN admits adoption has been slow, and the CBDC has processed about N22 billion in transactions since 2021. Its Payments System Vision 2028 now targets government-to-person and cross-border use.
In detail
Barely. The eNaira, launched in 2021 as Africa's first retail central bank digital currency (CBDC), has processed only about N22 billion in total transactions, and the Central Bank of Nigeria admits adoption has been slow.
Why it struggled
Nigerians already had fast, familiar digital options. The NIBSS Instant Payment system settles bank transfers in seconds, and fintech account apps such as OPay, PalmPay and Moniepoint hold bank-like accounts that plug into it. Mobile money operators handled 28.7 billion transactions in 2025. A new digital currency offered little that these tools did not already provide.
What comes next
Under its Payments System Vision 2028, the CBN now plans to refocus the eNaira on government-to-person payments, such as social transfers, and on cross-border use, rather than everyday retail payments.
What it means for payment operators
For operators serving Nigerian merchants, the eNaira is not a priority checkout method today. Pay with transfer, cards on domestic and international schemes and fintech app payments cover Nigerian shoppers. Keeping an eye on CBN plans for cross-border use is enough for now.