PalmPay launches NightGuard to add extra checks on transfers between 11pm and 7am
By Aboki Forex —
PalmPay has introduced NightGuard, a security feature that lets customers demand extra verification for transfers made during selected night-time hours. The company announced the rollout in a statement on Saturday.
The feature sits inside PalmPay's upgraded Security Centre. It targets a specific worry for digital payment users: the risk of unauthorised transfers when a phone is lost or compromised, especially at hours when account activity may not get immediate attention.
How the protection window works
Customers can set a protection window anywhere between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Any transfer attempted inside the period they choose will require an additional verification step before it can be completed.
The check does not apply all day. It only kicks in during the hours the customer picks. PalmPay also made clear that NightGuard is not a blanket suspension of night transfers. Transactions inside the selected window still go through, but only after the extra verification.
That distinction matters. Users keep access to their money overnight while adding a layer of control over when the extra check applies.
What PalmPay says about the risk
Femi Hanson, Head of PalmPay Nigeria Marketing, said a missing or compromised phone can carry added danger at night.
"While fraud can happen at any time, there are situations where a compromised or lost phone can create additional risks at night," Hanson said. "Giving customers more control over when additional verification is required can provide another layer of protection."
His comments frame NightGuard as an additional security measure rather than a claim that fraud only happens after dark. The company presented the tool as a way to strengthen protection during hours chosen by the user.
Digital payment risks and the wider CBN push
The rollout comes as digital payments become increasingly embedded in everyday transactions in Nigeria. Alongside the convenience, users face scams, impersonation and unauthorised account access.
PalmPay said customer education remains an important part of its efforts to improve digital payment security. The announcement combines two things: a practical way for customers to apply extra checks during selected hours, and continued awareness of the risks that come with daily use of digital financial services.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also introduced sweeping new regulations targeting major digital payment companies, including OPay, Moniepoint, PalmPay, Paystack and Flutterwave. The reforms, released between March and June 2026, focused on market concentration, operational ring-fencing, ownership disclosure, financial holding structures and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance.
For Nigerian users, the takeaway is narrow but useful. NightGuard does not stop night transfers. It puts the decision on when extra verification applies in the customer's hands, which may help limit losses if a phone goes missing and a fraudster tries to move money before the owner notices.