Zap Africa has presented official documentation to support its legal claim to the “ZAP” trademark in Nigeria’s financial services sector, intensifying its ongoing dispute with Paystack. The documents, approved by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment, confirm Zap Africa’s registration of the name across several key classes, including financial and tech services.
The clash began after Paystack launched a product called “Zap by Paystack”, prompting Zap Africa to accuse them of infringing on their long-standing brand identity. In response, Paystack insists it filed for the “Zap by Paystack” trademark back in 2023, asserting their actions followed due process. They argue that simply registering the word “Zap” doesn’t automatically guarantee exclusivity—especially when the name has been in use by multiple entities.
However, regulatory grey areas and timing discrepancies around the trademark filings have sparked questions about Nigeria’s trademark enforcement process. Zap Africa remains firm in its claim, while Paystack defends its legal grounds and stresses the importance of context and class-based protection.
The situation could reshape conversations about brand protection in Nigeria’s competitive fintech space, where identity, timing, and compliance are more critical than ever.
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