To tackle this widespread issue, OnePipe Tuesday unveiled a new payment scheduling feature within its PaywithAccount platform, enabling Nigerians to automate essential payments including electricity, airtime, and mobile data subscriptions.

The new scheduling solution, launched in response to rising consumer demand for simplified payments, allows users to effortlessly automate recurring payments directly from their existing bank accounts through paywithaccount.com.

The feature was designed specifically to address the ongoing stress faced by consumers who struggle to manage multiple payment obligations manually, often resulting in service disruptions, penalties, and financial anxiety.

A recent Nairametrics report highlights that nearly half of all urban Nigerians surveyed admitted facing disruptions in essential services due to forgotten or delayed payments. Many consumers rely heavily on manual reminders or mental notes, with limited success.

Akin Olunloye, product manager, PaywithAccount, emphasized the rationale behind the launch, stating,

“Managing monthly payments has become a significant source of stress for many Nigerians. This scheduling feature within PaywithAccount is a direct response to the need for automation. Our goal is to help consumers streamline their payments reliably and consistently.”

Users who tested the service ahead of its official launch expressed strong satisfaction with the convenience provided. Chinyere, a lawyer based in Lagos, remarked,

“Missing electricity payments has always been a hassle in my household. Automating with PaywithAccount has eliminated that completely. I get notifications and receipts immediately through WhatsApp. It’s made a big difference.”

Another early adopter, Sodiq, a digital marketer, noted,

“I handle various payments every month for family and business purposes. Automating these transactions with PaywithAccount means I never worry about disruptions, even if I’m occupied or traveling. It’s genuinely simplified how I handle my finances.”

PaywithAccount’s automated scheduling currently supports major electricity distribution companies, including Eko, Ikeja, Abuja, and Ibadan, as well as all primary mobile operators (MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9Mobile). Additional payment categories, such as cooperative society dues and insurance premiums, will be added soon.

PaywithAccount by OnePipe continues to support the financial needs of Nigerians by providing intuitive, secure, and relevant payment solutions that integrate seamlessly into everyday life.

Some customers pay instantly. Others pay after reminders. Too many pay long after you have covered the cost of delivery. That gap between earned revenue and received cash is where small businesses suffocate.

This is not a side story. MSMEs account for the overwhelming share of Nigerian businesses and a very large share of employment and GDP.

When late payments lock up working capital, owners borrow to meet payroll, push back inventory purchases, and miss opportunities because cash is trapped in limbo.

For a school proprietor that might mean delaying teacher salaries or postponing repairs. For a clinic it might mean stretching medicine stock. For a co-op it slows the lending cycle that members depend on.

The national payments landscape shows a different picture. Nigerians have embraced digital rails for everyday value exchange.

Instant transfers and other e-payment instruments now carry large volumes each year. Card acceptance is wider, bank apps are better, and many merchants already take digital payments. Willingness and tools exist.

The problem for recurring obligations is not whether customers can pay. The problem is whether they do so on time and without constant human follow up.

Recurring payments often behave like yesterday. An invoice goes out, a WhatsApp reminder follows, then a second and a third. Parents promise to transfer fees next week.

Members say they will renew dues when they get paid. Owners carry the administrative load and the emotional burden.

It is fragile by design because memory fails and monthly liquidity swings. Teams spend hours babysitting receivables instead of serving customers.

Nigeria already has the plumbing to make recurring payments act differently. Under the Central Bank framework and NIBSS infrastructure, a customer can give consent for a defined amount and a defined schedule.

With a direct debit mandate in place, the system moves funds on due dates and records a clear trail.

The rules require consent, auditability, reminders, and recourse. The rails are not new. They are simply under-used by many consumer-facing SMEs.

Move fee collection or dues from chase to consent and the picture changes. Parents approve once, then pay in predictable instalments. Co-op members stay current without monthly nudges.

Businesses gain a rhythm that matches payroll and supplier cycles. Reminders do not disappear, they shift to helpful notifications before each debit.

Administration shrinks. Relationships improve because owners stop playing debt collector and return to the role customers value them for.

If the rails exist, why is adoption uneven? Three reasons recur in field conversations. First, onboarding can feel complex if mandate screens are clunky or unfamiliar. Second, trust requires transparency.

People want clear pre-debit alerts and easy pause or cancel options. Third, operators need tools that plug into everyday workflows.

Reconciliation should be automatic. Notifications should be instant. Staff should not need a separate spreadsheet to keep up.

That is the gap we have focused on at OnePipe. We built PaywithAccount to help schools and similar SMEs set up those consents cleanly and collect on schedule through Nigeria’s regulated direct debit system.

The idea is simple. Customers grant permission in plain language. On due dates, funds move from bank accounts to the business account through the trusted rails many Nigerians already use for transfers.

For the operator, the benefits are practical. Cash becomes predictable. Admin becomes lighter. Reconciliation becomes faster. For the customer, control and clarity remain in place.

None of this suggests that late payments will vanish overnight. It does suggest that a country which has already shifted a huge share of commerce to digital can move a bigger share of recurring obligations from manual to mandated.

The change starts with design. Pick a pilot segment such as returning families who already pay in parts. Offer instalments with clear reminders and a visible stop switch.

Measure days sales outstanding before and after one term. Share results with parents and stakeholders. Scale steadily.

There is also a role for associations and ecosystem players. School owner groups and co-ops can issue model templates that standardise consent language.

Banks and processors can keep smoothing mandate user experience and dispute handling. Media can highlight practices that keep children in class and keep small businesses solvent.

Policymakers can amplify the message that on time payment is not only a private matter. It protects jobs, keeps services stable, and reduces friction across the local economy.

Predictable revenue is oxygen. When it flows on time, owners plan. When owners plan, teams perform. When teams perform, communities thrive. That is a change worth making this term.

Despite delivering services on time and at scale, they are often left waiting days, sometimes weeks, to get paid. This delay isn’t just frustrating—it’s costly, demoralizing, and systemically harmful.

In a business environment already strained by inflation, fuel price volatility, and limited access to credit, late payments can break even the most resilient businesses.

It affects not just cash flow, but trust, planning, and the ability to grow. The stakes are especially high for cooperatives and service-based SMEs, many of whom rely on informal, manual systems to manage their finances.

Ope Adeoye, CEO of Nigerian fintech firm OnePipe, believes the solution lies in structure. Through their flagship product PaywithAccount, OnePipe is pioneering a payment system that gives Nigerian businesses more control, transparency, and dignity.

In this conversation, Ope talks about the roots of Nigeria’s payment culture crisis, its emotional and economic toll, and how businesses can take back control.

Let’s start with the everyday experience. Why is late payment such a big issue in Nigeria?

Ope Adeoye: It’s partly cultural and partly systemic. In Nigeria, business often happens through relationships—verbal commitments, trust, informal records. That’s a beautiful thing in some ways. But when it comes to payments, it creates a lot of gray areas. People think they’re doing you a favour by paying. There’s no urgency. And the problem is, you’ve already done the work—you’ve delivered the service, paid your staff, bought fuel, and now you’re waiting endlessly for the money.

This creates a vicious cycle. Small businesses start avoiding riskier customers or stop offering credit entirely. That affects their customer base and revenue. It becomes harder to grow. It also makes the business ecosystem more hostile—less trust, more micromanagement, more stress.

And that waiting comes with real cost, right?

Absolutely. Every hour spent chasing a payment is an hour lost from doing productive work. You’re calling, texting, sending WhatsApp reminders, following up again. It’s exhausting. It affects your cash flow, your energy, and even your relationships.

We’ve seen school administrators chasing parents, cooperative treasurers begging members, and artisans refusing new jobs because they haven’t been paid for the last one. That’s lost economic value right there. And it’s not just money—it’s morale. When you can’t plan your finances, it affects your confidence in taking on new opportunities.

Is this a new problem or has it worsened in recent years?

It’s not new, but the impact has gotten worse because of economic pressures. Inflation, rising fuel costs, and business uncertainty mean that small delays can have cascading effects. If someone doesn’t pay you on time, you might not be able to pay your own supplier or staff. It becomes a ripple effect.

Also, we’re in a more digital world now. Expectations are higher. People want things faster, but the backend systems for collecting payment haven’t kept up. That disconnect creates real operational tension for many small businesses.

What’s driving the shift toward structured payment tools like PaywithAccount?

We’re seeing a real hunger for order. People are tired of chaos. PaywithAccount is built to bring structure to these informal interactions. It lets businesses or cooperatives set up a payment mandate—essentially a permission from the customer to deduct funds directly from their account at a specific time or frequency.

It works like a standing order but is simpler and designed for our local context. You don’t need complex bank setups or expensive tech. A cooperative or small business can set it up with basic onboarding and immediately start seeing the benefits in how they operate and relate with customers.

What’s the adoption been like?

It’s been encouraging. We’ve seen cooperatives that used to spend days every month chasing dues now collecting 90% of their contributions on schedule. We’ve seen service providers—like caterers—who now set up mandates with their clients for milestone payments. They report better cash flow, less tension, and more respect from customers.

More importantly, they regain time—time to focus on the actual work of building their business. We’ve also seen that clients take them more seriously. There’s a perception shift when you introduce structure. It builds credibility.

But some people might see mandates as risky or intrusive. How do you address that?

That’s a fair concern. Trust is central. We make sure every mandate is user-authorized, clear, and revocable. The idea isn’t to trap anyone—it’s to protect both sides.

In fact, many clients actually prefer it. It takes away the need for awkward reminders or renegotiations. Everyone knows what’s coming. It reduces friction. And when there’s friction, people hesitate. So having a clear system builds peace of mind.

Why do you think this is resonating now?

Because people are tired. The hustle mentality is strong in Nigeria, but it comes at a cost. If you’re constantly working, chasing clients, borrowing short-term cash, you never get ahead.

Nigerians want to grow. They want to operate with dignity. Tools like PaywithAccount help with that—not by changing how we do business but by giving it more structure. It enables people to take themselves more seriously—and when that happens, others take them seriously too.

You mentioned cooperatives earlier. Why is this tool especially useful in that space?

Cooperatives are lifelines in this country. They’re how people save, access loans, or fund children’s school fees. But many of them still operate manually. We’ve worked with cooperatives where the treasurer keeps handwritten books and uses their personal account. That’s not scalable, and it’s open to error or fraud.

With PaywithAccount, they can collect dues digitally, get notified in real-time, and operate more like a micro-financial institution. It empowers them to formalize without losing their community feel. And that’s important—because the human connection is part of why cooperatives work.

What’s your vision for how this changes Nigerian business culture?

I want us to stop normalizing late payment. I want it to be seen as a business risk—because that’s what it is. If you can’t pay on time, you’re not being professional.

My hope is that more people start to use tools that introduce structure, whether it’s PaywithAccount or something else. The more we normalize timely payment, the more we enable SMEs to grow, plan, and hire. That’s how you build an economy from the ground up.

We often say we’re a nation of entrepreneurs. Let’s start behaving like one—serious, structured, and scalable.

Final thought—what would you say to a small business owner still unsure about all this?

I’d say: try it with just one client. Set up a mandate, see how it feels. Most times, the client even appreciates the structure. It shows you’re serious. You deserve to be paid on time. It’s not too much to ask.

Also, don’t think you have to be a big business to operate professionally. Start small, but build systems. That’s what sustains you when things get tough.

For the most part, she made it work. But as the school grew, a new challenge took root. It wasn’t infrastructure. It wasn’t teacher retention. It was something far more basic: getting paid.

Each new term brings the same pattern. Parents promise to pay fees “by next week.” Some follow through. Many don’t.

As the term wears on, Mrs. Agbaje finds herself juggling spreadsheets, reminder texts, and awkward conversations in car parks or at school gates.

Meanwhile, salaries must be paid, books restocked, diesel bought. More often than not, she dips into personal savings to keep things running.

Her story is common across Nigeria. Small businesses—whether they’re schools, salons, logistics firms, or cooperative groups—are constantly navigating the emotional and financial toll of delayed payments.

And it’s not just a matter of inconvenience. A recent study by MacTay Consulting found that Nigerian SMEs wait between 60 to 120 days on average to receive payment for services or products already delivered. That kind of delay is more than a hiccup.

It threatens livelihoods. It blocks growth. It’s a silent killer.

For Chuks, who runs a car hire service in Enugu, the issue is tied to his bigger corporate clients. They insist on “net 30” or “net 60” terms—industry-speak for “we’ll pay you in a month or two.” That might be manageable for a large fleet with strong cash reserves, but for someone like Chuks, every week matters. With fuel prices rising and maintenance bills stacking up, he’s often forced to park cars because he doesn’t have the cash to fix them—even when work is lined up.

What links these stories is the reality that small businesses operate in a system where money is constantly in motion but rarely on time.

Customers often mean well, but their own financial instability creates a domino effect. And the existing tools to manage payments—handwritten ledgers, POS machines, WhatsApp reminders—were never designed for structure. They’re patched solutions to a systemic problem.

Even digital banking, for all its advancement in Nigeria, hasn’t solved this issue. Many SMEs still operate informally, managing finances through personal bank accounts or apps not tailored to business needs.

The result is a messy web of follow-ups, reconciliations, and emotional strain. Business owners become debt collectors, chasing down what they’ve already earned, time and time again.

What’s often missed in conversations about entrepreneurship is just how deeply this problem cuts. Payment delays mean rent can’t be paid on time.

It means holding off on hiring a new staff member, or letting go of a part-time assistant. It means saying no to growth opportunities, not because they’re not viable, but because the cash flow isn’t predictable enough to take the risk.

And when you zoom out, the implications are national. Small businesses make up over 90% of enterprises in Nigeria.

They contribute nearly half of the country’s GDP and employ a significant portion of the workforce. Yet, their greatest enemy isn’t market competition—it’s irregular income. This is a structural inefficiency that deserves far more attention than it gets.

Slowly, however, change is beginning to show. A quiet revolution is underway—one where technology is stepping in not as a trend, but as a tool for financial stability. More SMEs are beginning to explore digital solutions that streamline payments and reduce friction between businesses and customers.

Among these solutions is PaywithAccount, a new tool launched by Nigerian fintech company OnePipe.

Breaking the Chains of Payments Inefficiency, OnePipe Launches PaywithAccount for SMEs

Designed specifically for businesses with recurring payments—schools, cooperatives, service providers—it allows them to automate collections directly from customers’ bank accounts.

With full consent and transparency, payments can be scheduled, reducing the need for repeated follow-ups or awkward reminders.

For Mrs. Agbaje, this has made a significant difference. Parents receive structured payment plans, reminders go out automatically, and debits happen based on prior agreement. She now spends less time tracking who has paid and more time planning curriculum upgrades and engaging with teachers.

The benefit isn’t just financial—it’s emotional. When business owners don’t have to chase payments, they gain time, clarity, and confidence. They can plan ahead, restock inventory, or finally invest in that expansion they’ve put off for years. And for customers, the experience feels more professional, more trustworthy. Everyone wins.

Technology won’t solve every problem for Nigerian SMEs. But smart, well-designed financial tools are starting to remove some of the biggest roadblocks—quietly and effectively. And that’s the point. The best systems aren’t flashy.

They work in the background, reducing stress, restoring dignity, and enabling business owners to focus on what truly matters.

For Ope Adeoye, founder of OnePipe, the issue is personal.

“Every Nigerian knows someone who runs a business—a cousin, a friend, a neighbour. When they suffer from late payments, it affects whole families and communities. Fixing this isn’t just a business goal—it’s a social one,” he said.

In a country as dynamic and entrepreneurial as Nigeria, the challenge is rarely about lack of ideas. It’s about systems that help those ideas survive. And one of the most overlooked systems is the way money flows—or fails to.

As more SMEs embrace tools that put payment on autopilot, a future of stability—rather than constant survival—starts to feel possible. And in a nation powered by small businesses, that kind of shift could move mountains.

Too often, business owners find themselves chasing payments, sending repeated reminders, and struggling with cash flow gaps.

According to a PwC report, 48% of Nigerian SMEs experience delayed payments, which can disrupt operations, affect salaries, and slow down business growth.

But the real cost of these delays isn’t just the stress of waiting—it’s the uncertainty it creates. Businesses struggle to plan ahead, restock inventory, pay workers, or even keep the lights on.

Without predictable payments, expansion is nearly impossible, and owners are left firefighting short-term financial struggles rather than focusing on growth.

If you’re tired of chasing customers for money, here are seven simple ways to ensure you get paid on time—without the stress.

The seventh tip includes a newly unveiled tech tool.

1. Set Clear Payment Terms from the Start

One of the biggest reasons payments are delayed is because customers aren’t sure when or how to pay. Avoid this by clearly outlining payment terms before any transaction. Let customers know the exact due date, acceptable payment methods, and any penalties for late payments.

For businesses offering services, a simple invoice with clear terms helps. If you run a school, cooperative, or subscription-based service, structuring payments with due dates reduces confusion. When expectations are clear, payments are more likely to come in on time.

2. Request Upfront or Part Payments

Rather than waiting until the end of a service period to get paid, consider requesting a percentage of the payment upfront. This ensures that customers are financially committed from the start.

For example, if you run a catering business, you can require 50% of the payment before sourcing ingredients.

Schools can structure fees into manageable installment plans to encourage parents to pay in advance. When customers have already invested in your service, they are more likely to complete payments on time.

3. Automate Payment Reminders

People get busy, and sometimes, late payments are due to forgetfulness rather than unwillingness to pay. Sending reminders before due dates can prevent this. Instead of calling each customer individually, use automated reminders via SMS, WhatsApp, or email.

For instance, a gym owner can schedule monthly reminders for members before their subscription renewal. Cooperatives collecting monthly contributions can send automatic alerts to remind members of upcoming payments. A simple nudge at the right time can make all the difference.

4. Reward Reliable Customers

Sometimes, the best way to encourage timely payments is to reward the customers who consistently pay on time. This creates an incentive for others to follow suit while reinforcing good payment habits.

For example, a school could offer early payment discounts for parents who settle fees before term starts.

A business that provides services on credit could prioritize loyal customers for special deals or extended services. When customers know there’s a benefit to paying on time, they’re more likely to make it a habit.

5. Offer Discounts for Early Payments

Everyone loves a good deal, and small incentives can go a long way in encouraging customers to pay on time. Consider offering a small discount for customers who pay early.

For example, a school can offer a 5% discount on fees paid before the term starts. Landlords can offer a slight reduction on rent if tenants pay before the due date. Small rewards create urgency, motivating customers to settle payments quickly.

6. Enforce Late Payment Penalties (But Politely)

While incentives encourage early payments, penalties discourage late ones. Establishing a small late fee can push customers to prioritize your payment over others. However, the key is to communicate it upfront and enforce it politely.

For instance, a tailor can state that late balance payments will result in an extra charge per day. A cooperative can apply an administrative fee for overdue contributions.

Many businesses use “grace periods” before applying penalties to give customers a fair chance. It’s about striking a balance between being firm and maintaining good customer relationships.

7. Use PaywithAccount to Automate and Secure Your Payments

Even with all the right steps in place, managing collections manually can still be time-consuming and stressful. That’s why OnePipe launched PaywithAccount two weeks ago—to help Nigerian businesses get paid on time without the hassle.

PaywithAccount allows businesses to automate payments, ensuring funds are collected directly from customer accounts without the need for follow-ups.

This means fewer delays, predictable cash flow, and no more awkward reminders. By eliminating the inefficiencies of traditional payment methods, businesses can focus on what truly matters—growth and customer satisfaction.

Whether you run a school, a cooperative, a gym, or any business that relies on scheduled payments, PaywithAccount simplifies collections and provides peace of mind.

Learn more at paywithaccount.com/signup.

In conclusion, late payments can be frustrating, but they don’t have to be the norm. By setting clear expectations, offering flexible options, and using the right tools, you can ensure steady cash flow without stress.

The most successful businesses don’t waste time running after payments—they set up systems that make payments run smoothly. With the right strategy in place, you can focus less on collecting money and more on growing your business.

Between outrageous transfer fees, failed transactions, and endless intermediary delays, the financial sector sometimes feels like a slow-moving train bound to get users upset.

Interestingly, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) revealed that electronic payment transactions in Nigeria reached ₦600 trillion in 2023, however, cash says it’s going nowhere, and inefficiencies are unending.

OnePipe is stepping in to change this with its latest innovation, PaywithAccount, a seamless, secure, and automated bank-to-bank payment solution designed to wipe out intermediaries and enhance financial efficiency. 

The solution is particularly beneficial for small businesses struggling with cash flow constraints, delayed payments, and high transaction fees. 

A study by PwC revealed that 48% of Nigerian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have experienced delayed payments due to various reasons, with 33% reporting severe consequences. 

Traditional systems usually involve manual invoicing, repeated follow-ups, and high transaction fees, leaving business owners with less time to focus on growth.

OnePipe is simplifying financial transactions through API-driven solutions. Ope Adeoye, founder and chief plumber at OnePipe, said:

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but too many struggle simply because getting paid is a challenge. We believe financial technology should remove obstacles, not create them. PaywithAccount helps businesses worry less about collections so they can focus on what truly matters—growth, innovation, and serving their customers.”

OnePipe was built on a vision to pull the services of financial institutions together into a set of APIs that are uniform in nature, making use cases born out of this to create the unimaginable.

Since that moment of inspiration, OnePipe has grown exponentially, now servicing 22,000 businesses monthly and processing transactions worth over half a billion dollars. 

Nonetheless, a fundamental challenge remained—direct bank-to-bank payments without third-party friction. With PaywithAccount, that missing piece is finally in place, enabling direct payments from accounts across 19 major banks, with more institutions expected to join.

PaywithAccount is Supporting SMEs and Enhancing Financial Inclusion

PaywithAccount is not limited to being a convenient tool; it brings a solution that addresses the tiresome challenges faced by businesses, especially SMEs. The removal of intermediaries ensures faster settlements, improved cash flow, and reduced operational costs.

Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems PLC (NIBSS), spoke on its significance: “Account payments can really empower small businesses, drive growth, and ensure financial inclusion. Many businesses struggle with cash flow limitations, inefficient payment processes, and high transaction costs. They need solutions that provide speed, security, and simplicity without the friction that often comes with traditional payment methods.

“At NIBSS, our core vision is to empower the financial ecosystem to innovate within the framework of interoperability, ease of connectivity, collaboration, and cost-optimisation,” she said.

“PaywithAccount is another heartening example of what happens when industry players leverage these guardrails to enhance the overall quality of our nation’s digital payment system.”

For entrepreneurs across Nigeria, the ability to receive payments on time means the difference between survival and growth. Mrs Olumide Ashade, founder of King’s Court School in Lagos, shared her perspective:

“As a school owner, I want to focus on my students, not spend hours tracking unpaid fees. Many of our parents pay in instalments, but managing these payments manually has been stressful. A solution like PaywithAccount means we can offer flexibility to parents while keeping our finances in order.”

One of PaywithAccount’s greatest strengths is the collaboration behind its success. Ihyembe-Nwankwo asserted the importance of ecosystem-wide cooperation: “Innovation does not happen in silos… It requires a full ecosystem. You need regulators, financial institutions, fintech innovators, and businesses all working together to solve problems and drive progress.”

Again, compliance and security are top priorities. “The financial ecosystem thrives on trust, and that trust is built on a strong foundation of compliance, risk management, and consumer protection,” she added.

The automation PaywithAccount brings makes transactions more predictable and reliable. Adedeji Olowe, founder of Lendsqr, explained:

“Reliable repayment is the backbone of growth for lenders. At Lendsqr, we understand that payment delays are a significant problem for lenders. We have helped many of our lenders transition from debit cards to PaywithAccount, which reliably ensures loan repayments are on schedule.”

The telecom industry, for example, stands to benefit greatly. PaywithAccount can bridge the gap between prepaid and postpaid services, providing telcos with a more flexible and reliable payment structure. 

PaywithAccount also provides a seamless alternative, ensuring that even market traders can receive digital payments without issues, as many small market sellers have started realising the importance of digital payments, after losing customers due to cash scarcity.

Beyond business benefits, PaywithAccount is expected to enhance financial inclusion by providing unbanked and underbanked individuals with easier access to digital transactions, further integrating them into the formal economy.