OPay has unveiled two new security features, Emergency Lock and Safety PIN, aimed at giving customers greater control over their accounts during emergencies such as robbery, phone theft, fraud attempts and forced transfers.
The fintech company said the latest innovations were developed to help customers secure their funds before fraud or unauthorised transactions occur, reinforcing its commitment to customer safety and financial security.
With millions of Nigerians relying on digital payments daily, OPay noted that concerns about phone theft, account compromise and coercion remain significant challenges. According to the company, the new features are designed to help customers respond immediately whenever they sense danger.
The Emergency Lock feature allows customers to freeze their OPay account instantly with a single tap whenever they suspect their account may be at risk.
Whether a customer notices suspicious account activity, enters an unsafe environment or simply wants extra protection, activating the feature immediately freezes the account for 24 hours.
During the lock period, all outgoing transactions, including money transfers, bill payments and card transactions, are automatically blocked.
OPay explained that the account freeze cannot be reversed by anyone, including the customer or OPay’s customer service team, until the 24-hour security period expires. The measure is intended to provide maximum protection during emergencies.
The company also introduced Safety PIN, a discreet security feature designed for situations where customers may be forced to carry out transactions under threat.
Customers can create a unique Safety PIN within the app. If they are ever compelled to make a transfer or payment, entering the Safety PIN instead of their regular PIN will secretly trigger a 24-hour account freeze without alerting the person making the demand.
According to OPay, this enables customers to activate account protection without drawing attention to themselves in potentially dangerous situations.
The company said the new features represent a shift from traditional fraud recovery measures to proactive prevention, allowing users to stop unauthorised access before money leaves their accounts.
Speaking on the launch, OPay’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Dotun Adekunle, said the company developed the features to address real-life security concerns faced by many Nigerians.
“At OPay, every innovation starts with a simple question: how can we better protect and serve our customers? Emergency Lock and Safety PIN were developed to address real-life situations that many Nigerians face every day.
“These features are designed to give customers immediate control over their finances during moments of uncertainty, helping them protect what matters most. We believe financial services should not only be convenient, but also provide confidence, security, and peace of mind,” he said.
Customers can activate the Emergency Lock feature by opening the Security Centre within the OPay app and selecting Emergency Lock. The Safety PIN can also be created through the same Security Centre menu.
Founded in 2018, OPay provides a range of financial services, including money transfers, bill payments, airtime and data purchases, merchant services and card transactions. The fintech company is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), offering customers the same deposit insurance coverage available to commercial banks.
