This paper critically evaluates the legal and regulatory frameworks governing digital financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on Nigeria as a primary case study. As financial technology (FinTech) rapidly alters access to financial services for historically unbanked and underbanked populations, legacy legal institutions face unprecedented friction in maintaining systemic stability while fostering innovation. Employing a doctrinal and comparative legal methodology, this study analyzes the statutory efficacy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulatory sandboxes, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA 2020), consumer protection mechanisms under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and data privacy safeguards established by the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023. The research reveals significant normative gaps between technological deployment and legislative adaptation, specifically regarding algorithmic discrimination in credit scoring, predatory digital lending, cross-border remittance interoperability, and anti-money laundering (AML/CFT) compliance. By contrasting Nigeria’s bank-led regulatory approach with Kenya’s telecom-led M-Pesa ecosystem, the paper formulates a responsive, human-centric regulatory model designed to reconcile innovation incentives with consumer protection and financial integrity.