I’ve spent more time than I’d like admitting trying to run Instagram ads in Nigeria, only to have my card declined over and over. Turns out, it’s not me, it’s the card.
If you can get your hands on a USD card like a Payoneer card or a Dollar Visa from GTBank, Stanbic, or Access, it’s your safest bet. Instagram likes dollar cards, and you’ll avoid the headaches of constant declines and verification errors.
Regular Naira debit cards sometimes work, but they’re hit or miss. You have to make sure international transactions are activated, the spending limit is high enough, and even then, it can fail mid-campaign. Prepaid virtual cards with USD support are another option, as long as Instagram sees them as international.
The funny thing is, you don’t realize how picky Instagram is about payment until you’re staring at a failed payment notification at 1 AM.
After a few tries, you learn that a proper dollar card makes life way easier, and local Naira cards are really just a gamble.