Digital payments company PalmPay has introduced a new security feature designed to give customers an additional layer of protection when making transfers during hours they consider more vulnerable to fraud.
The feature, called NightGuard, allows users to choose a specific period during which transfers from their accounts will require an additional verification step before they can be completed.
According to a statement issued by the fintech company on Saturday, NightGuard is available through PalmPay's upgraded Security Centre and allows customers to set a protection window between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Once the feature is activated, transfer attempts made during the selected period will trigger an additional verification requirement, providing an extra barrier against transactions that may be unauthorised.
The introduction comes as digital payments continue to play an increasingly central role in everyday financial transactions in Nigeria, from person-to-person transfers and bill payments to purchases and other routine activities.
At the same time, the growing use of digital financial services has increased concerns around scams, impersonation, stolen credentials and unauthorised access to mobile devices and accounts.
PalmPay said NightGuard was developed to give customers greater control over when they want additional security measures applied to their transactions.
“While fraud can happen at any time, there are situations where a compromised or lost phone can create additional risks at night,” Head of PalmPay Nigeria Marketing, Femi Hanson, said in the statement.
“Giving customers more control over when additional verification is required can provide another layer of protection.”
The company said the feature is particularly aimed at situations in which suspicious activity may be less likely to be noticed immediately, allowing customers to impose an additional verification requirement during a period of their choosing.
Unlike security measures that require an additional check for every transaction, NightGuard allows users to define a specific protection window. This means customers can activate the extra verification requirement for selected hours while continuing to make transfers normally outside that period.
PalmPay said NightGuard forms part of the broader range of security tools available through its Security Centre, as the company seeks to strengthen safeguards around customer accounts and transactions.
The fintech also emphasised the importance of customer awareness and education as part of efforts to improve digital-payment security.
The new feature reflects the growing emphasis on giving users more direct control over the security of their digital financial accounts, particularly as mobile phones increasingly serve as gateways to banking, payments and other financial services.