If you’re a Nigerian YouTuber close to monetisation, first congratulations. You’ve earned it, or at least you’re about to. Now it’s important to understand how YouTube will pay you and how to properly set up your payment details, so you don’t lose out on your funds.
In this article, I will share exactly how YouTube pays creators, and what Nigerian creators need to do to maximise earnings.
YouTube doesn’t pay you directly. Instead, they pay through Google AdSense, which is Google’s advertising platform. When you’re accepted into the YouTube Partner Programme, you link your YouTube channel to an AdSense account, and that’s where your earnings accumulate.
AdSense pays in US dollars (USD). There’s a minimum payout threshold of $100, meaning you won’t receive anything until your earnings reach at least $100. Once you cross that threshold, AdSense processes payments monthly, typically between the 21st and 26th, for the previous month’s earnings.
So if you earn $150 in January, AdSense will pay you sometime between 21st and 26th February. Simple enough in theory, but where does that money actually go, and how do you access it in Nigeria?
Also read: How Indian YouTube creators receive their earnings from overseas
To receive YouTube earnings in Nigeria, you need a few things in place:
A monetised YouTube channel: This means you’ve been accepted into the YouTube Partner Programme (1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months, and adherence to YouTube’s policies).
A Google AdSense account: You’ll create this when applying for monetisation. Make sure your AdSense account has your correct legal name and address.
A valid payment method: This is where it gets tricky for Nigerian creators. AdSense needs a way to send you money, and not every method works smoothly in Nigeria. I’ll discuss this in-depth later.
Tax information: AdSense requires you to submit tax details, even if you’re not in the US. Nigerian creators typically complete a W-8BEN form, which confirms that you’re a foreign person not subject to US tax withholding on most AdSense earnings.
Also read: How South Africans can receive YouTube payments from abroad
The first time I set up an AdSense payout, I added a Nigerian bank account and assumed everything would work smoothly. It didn’t.
First problem, delays. My first payment took nearly two weeks to arrive after AdSense marked it as sent. I had no visibility into where the money was or why it was taking so long.
The second problem was the fees and exchange rates. When the money finally arrived, I lost around 5 - 6% due to a combination of receiving fees and a terrible exchange rate set by my bank. On a $200 payout, that’s $10 - $12 gone, money I’d worked hard to earn.
I realised quickly that relying solely on wire transfers to a Nigerian bank wasn’t sustainable. I needed a better system.
Also read: How Ghanaian YouTubers can collect USD earnings
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After some research and talking to other Nigerian creators, I eventually figured out what actually works. The key is using a service that provides a US bank account or a more efficient way to receive USD payments than traditional Nigerian banks.
Here’s what I did:
Step 1: I opened an account on a platform that provides virtual USD accounts. Most people recommended Grey, and I obliged. Platforms like this give you US banking details (account number and routing number) that you can add to AdSense as your payout method. When AdSense sends payments, they go to this account instead of directly to a Nigerian bank.
Step 2: I updated my AdSense payment settings. In AdSense, under Payments > Payment methods, I added my new US bank details. AdSense verified the account by making small test deposits, which I confirmed.
Step 3: I waited for my next payout cycle. Once my earnings crossed $100 again, AdSense sent the payment to my US account. It arrived within 3 - 5 days, much faster than wire transfers to Nigerian banks.
Step 4: Instead of being forced to convert USD to naira immediately at whatever rate my bank decided, I held the money in USD and converted it when rates were favourable. I also had the option to spend directly from a USD card or withdraw to my Nigerian bank account.
This setup solved every problem I’d been facing: faster payments, better control over exchange rates, and no rejected transfers.
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Set up your payment method before you hit $100: Don’t wait until you’ve earned your first payout to sort this out. Get your USD account ready early so there are no delays when you finally qualify for payment.
Don’t rely on traditional wire transfers unless you have no other option: The fees and delays aren’t worth it. Get a free USD account with Grey, Wise to gain better control and faster access to your money.
Keep your AdSense details accurate: Make sure your name, address, and tax information match your official documents. Mismatches can delay payments or cause verification issues.
Track your earnings and fees: Know how much you’re actually receiving after conversion and fees. This helps you plan better and understand the real value of your content.
Focus on creating consistent content: The payment setup is important, but your primary job is still making videos people want to watch. Sort out the money side once, then get back to creating.
Once you’ve sorted out a reliable payment method, you can focus on making great videos and growing your audience.
Set up your USD receiving account now, link it to AdSense, and get back to creating. Your content deserves to be rewarded properly, and you deserve to receive that money without unnecessary stress.
Open your free Grey account today, or download the app, and start receiving your YouTube earnings faster, at better rates, and with full control over your money. Because you’ve earned it, you should actually get to keep it.
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