Moniepoint disbursed more than ₦1 trillion in loans to about 70,000 businesses in 2025, according to its 2025 Year in Review report.
The fintech reports that businesses that received credit saw an average 36% growth in transaction value after accessing loans, highlighting the importance of credit in day-to-day operations for Nigeria’s informal businesses.
Everyday businesses largely took the loans. Provision stores accounted for the largest share of credit recipients, followed by supermarkets, building material sellers, raw food traders, and drink and water wholesalers.
A trillion naira to 70,000 businesses means that the average loan size is roughly ₦14.3 million per business. While actual loan amounts will vary widely, this estimate highlights that Moniepoint may be providing substantial capital for these businesses and not just microloans.
Access to credit remains one of the biggest constraints facing Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises. Traditional banks often require collateral, lengthy documentation, and formal financial records that many informal businesses simply do not have.
A 2017 survey by SMEDAN revealed that less than 6% of MSMEs in the country had accessed financing.
Experts say there isn’t enough data to be able to appraise them for a loan adequately. However, fintechs are starting to cater to these small businesses. Paystack, for example, has acquired a Microfinance bank licence to begin lending.
While lending at this scale raises questions around risk and loan recovery, it can be argued that fintechs like Paystack and Moniepoint are building data on the businesses they serve, making risk assessment better.
Historically, Nigerian banks have focused on corporate lending and government securities, leaving small businesses underserved. Over time, fintechs like Moniepoint have stepped into this gap by using payments data, POS activity, and alternative signals to extend credit.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
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If current trends persist, fintech platforms may increasingly become the primary source of credit for Nigeria’s small businesses, especially in the informal sector. Moniepoint’s ₦1 trillion lending milestone shows how large that role is already becoming.
