Duplo, a Nigerian business-to-business payment platform, has secured crucial Systems Integrator and Access Point Provider licenses from the Nigeria Revenue Service. This dual accreditation positions the company as a key enabler for businesses navigating the country's mandatory electronic invoicing rollout. The platform now offers an integrated solution to generate compliant invoices, transmit them to tax authorities, and settle payments seamlessly.
Navigating Nigeria's Digital Tax Transformation
The Nigerian government is intensifying its efforts to digitize revenue collection and curb significant tax leakages through its new Electronic Fiscal System. Authorities estimate that over $360 million is lost annually due to manual invoicing and under-reporting of transactions. The EFS initiative is designed to provide the NRS with near real-time visibility into business activities, closing these gaps.
A critical deadline is approaching on July 1 for medium-sized taxpayers, defined as companies with an annual turnover between $721.000 and $3.6 million. Non-compliance carries substantial penalties, including a $144.2 administrative fine and a 100% tax surcharge on unreported transactions. This regulatory shift makes robust digital compliance tools essential for businesses to avoid financial repercussions.
Duplo's Integrated Compliance and Payment Solution
Duplo’s new licenses empower it to operate across the entire e-invoicing ecosystem, offering a distinct advantage. The Systems Integrator license enables the platform to connect directly with a company's existing Enterprise Resource Planning systems, such as SAP or Oracle. This integration automates the generation of NRS-compliant invoices without requiring manual intervention from finance teams.
The Access Point Provider license then allows Duplo to securely transmit these validated invoices directly to the NRS engine for official clearance. Once approved, the associated payments can be settled and reconciled within the Duplo platform, eliminating reconciliation delays. This unified process provides a comprehensive solution that bridges the gap between corporate finance and tax authorities.
A Strategic Vision for African Enterprise Finance
According to CEO and Co-Founder Yele Oyekola, the company’s mission is to build foundational financial systems for Africa's next growth phase. He stated that the dual licenses create a single operational layer that finally connects payments, invoicing, and tax logic. This approach aims to provide a permanent infrastructure solution rather than a temporary compliance patch for businesses.
Oyekola stressed that true scalability in financial operations comes from automation and standardization, not from expanding teams. This vision of efficient, technology-driven growth is already being implemented by prominent clients using the platform, including Maersk, DP World, and Eat N’Go. Duplo's platform is designed to help businesses automate decisions and streamline their core financial workflows.
As the e-invoicing deadline nears, Duplo's enhanced capabilities position it as a vital partner for Nigerian businesses seeking to ensure compliance and operational efficiency. The company's integrated approach reflects a broader trend across Africa's fintech landscape, where payment rails and regulatory infrastructure are increasingly converging. This strategic move solidifies Duplo's role in shaping the future of enterprise finance on the continent.