Nigeria's tax system is entering a new digital era. Technology firm Upperlink Limited just won approval from the Nigeria Revenue Service to serve as a System Integrator for the national e-Invoicing platform.
The authorisation places Upperlink in a commanding position. It'll connect businesses and institutions to the NRS Merchant Buyer Solution framework for real-time invoice validation and digital tax reporting.
Nigeria is racing toward a fully digital tax ecosystem. Officials hope the shift will plug revenue leaks, boost transparency, and expand government collections.
Olusegun Akano, Upperlink's managing director, told reporters the approval reflects his company's deep experience. He highlighted work in enterprise technology, regulated payment infrastructure, and large-scale digital service delivery.
Upperlink has spent years building secure platforms for businesses and government agencies. The Central Bank of Nigeria licensed it as a Payment Solution Service Provider, he noted.
According to Akano, his firm also operates as an aggregator to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System. It holds another distinction as Nigeria's first ICANN-accredited registrar.
The company has rolled out several payment and enterprise solutions over time. Upperlink Paygate, for instance, processes payments across major card schemes and bank-to-bank channels.
Its treasury management systems already power financial operations for large corporations and several state governments. These capabilities should prove valuable under the new invoicing regime.
E-invoicing could transform Nigeria's business landscape dramatically. Better invoice tracking, reduced tax fraud, and more efficient transaction monitoring await.
Implementation begins in phases across different business categories. Companies earning above N5 billion annually will onboard first.
Next come firms between N1 billion and N5 billion in annual turnover. Smaller businesses below N1 billion follow after that.
Every business must align its accounting and invoicing systems with the approved framework. Real-time issuance, validation, and submission through authorised channels becomes mandatory.
Opeyemi Oni, Upperlink's chief marketing officer, said the approval strengthens the company's mission. He told reporters it's committed to helping organisations comply without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Oni added that reducing operational bottlenecks remains a core objective. Upperlink wants firms to transition smoothly into the new system.
