Is this the end for Bento Africa?

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January 28, 2025
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6 min read
Bento
Bento founders. Source: Supplied

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Annyeonghaseyo,

Victoria from Techpoint here,

Here's what I've got for you today:

  • Bento’s in hot water as LIRS investigates
  • GO54, formerly WhoGoHost, acquired by SA company
  • Oando to use AI in its drilling operations

Bento’s in hot water as LIRS investigate

Bento
Bento founders. Source: Supplied

Drama is brewing in Nigeria’s HR and payroll tech space as Bento Africa finds itself under the microscope. The Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) is reportedly investigating the company for allegedly scamming businesses that rely on its payroll services.

Here’s how it all started: Sultan Akintunde, co-founder of AltSchool Africa, called out Bento on X (formerly Twitter) on January 24, 2025. He accused the company of collecting millions in Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes from clients but only remitting a measly ₦100 to LIRS. According to Sultan, Bento even went as far as forging tax receipts to make it look like they’d paid the full amounts. 

But Bento’s CEO, Ebun Okubanjo, is not having it. He called Sultan’s claims reckless and demanded proof. He also denied the accusations in an email to Techpoint Africa, saying the company has done no wrong.

Meanwhile, the plot thickens. Another company (choosing to stay anonymous) claims Bento owes ₦43.8 million in unremitted taxes and pensions. Apparently, this company started noticing missing receipts back in 2023 when Bento underwent a system upgrade. 

Things got messier in September 2024 when a spot check by LIRS revealed some receipts were fake. The company cut ties with Bento, started paying taxes manually, and is now looking for a new payroll provider.

According to documents seen by Techpoint Africa, LIRS flagged ₦27.9 million worth of fake PAYE receipts between 2023 and 2024. On top of that, ₦15.8 million in pension contributions also went unremitted. And it’s not just one company — LIRS reportedly found that other businesses have been affected by this alleged “scam” too.

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Bento’s response? Okubanjo admits the company has faced challenges but insists they’re not guilty of any wrongdoing. He’s also gearing up to sue AltSchool in the US, where both companies are registered.

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For now, affected companies are left holding the bag. One firm even shared that it might have to pay LIRS directly for the missing funds while trying to recover the money from Bento.This situation is wild, and the investigations will likely bring more twists and turns. Let’s see how this one plays out!


GO54, formerly WhoGoHost, acquired by SA company

WhoGoHost

GO54, the web hosting company you probably remember as WhoGoHost, has been acquired by South African hosting giant HOSTAFRICA. The deal was announced on January 14, 2025, and it’s set to make HOSTAFRICA one of the top hosting players in Nigeria.

Here’s a bit of background: HOSTAFRICA started out as Cloud Machine in 2008 and has been on a steady mission to dominate Africa’s hosting scene. They even rebranded in 2017 after acquiring VPS Networks. Now, by teaming up with GO54, they’re blending GO54’s local expertise with their larger network, promising better hosting services for Nigerian customers.

GO54 has been a major player in Nigeria’s hosting market, holding a solid 20% market share and serving over 100,000 customers. Fun fact: the company was founded back in 2007 by Opeyemi Awoyemi while he was still a student at Obafemi Awolowo University. Fast forward to now, and it’s grown into one of the country’s biggest hosting providers.

HOSTAFRICA’s CEO, Michael Osterloh, seems pumped about the acquisition, saying it’s been in the works for a while and will take the Nigerian hosting experience to the next level. This isn’t HOSTAFRICA’s first rodeo either; it’s their 11th acquisition since 2009. They’ve been snapping up hosting companies left and right, including DomainKing in 2021, which marked their initial entry into Nigeria.

GO54 has also been making moves. In 2023, they acquired SendChamp to expand their offerings beyond just hosting and domains. They’ve been working to become a full-on digital services platform, adding products like online communication and commerce to their lineup.

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All this is happening at a time when web hosting is a hot topic in Nigeria, especially with rising dollar rates pushing startups to consider local providers to save costs. Even big names like AWS are now billing Nigerian customers in naira. Meanwhile, cloud solution providers like Deimos are advocating for more localised cloud services to tap into Africa’s potential.


Oando to use AI in its drilling operations

sea

Oando is stepping up its game with plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) in its next drilling operations. Wale Tinubu, Oando’s Group CEO, shared the scoop during an interview with CNBC Africa at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The goal? Boost efficiency and cut costs in future projects.

“AI’s a game-changer,” Tinubu said. “Drilling comes with major decisions that can seriously impact costs. With AI, we can analyse past experiences and explore a bunch of possibilities to make smarter calls. We’re excited to bring this tech into our next drilling campaign.”

But that’s not all. Tinubu also revealed that Oando is teaming up with the Lagos state government to roll out 5,000 electric buses for public transportation. These e-buses will be powered by electricity generated from gas as a transitional fuel, helping Nigeria cut down on carbon emissions.

“Transport makes up 10% of global emissions,” Tinubu explained. “By focusing on public transport, we could slash that by 5% right away. We’re starting with Lagos as a pilot, swapping diesel and petrol buses for e-buses. It’s all part of our cleaner energy goals.”

Oando is also diving into carbon capture to offset its emissions, aiming to play a significant role in global decarbonisation. “We’re making sure that for every bit of carbon we produce, we’re taking it out. It’s about balancing our energy offerings with clean solutions, like e-vehicles,” Tinubu added.

However, Tinubu emphasised that Africa’s unique challenges — like 45% of its population lacking access to electricity — mean that a “just” energy transition is key. “Decarbonisation is critical, but so is ensuring energy access for our people. Gas has to be part of the mix as a transitional fuel to meet Africa’s needs while we work toward a cleaner future,” he argued.

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With AI, e-buses, and a focus on cleaner energy, Oando seems set on driving change while keeping Africa’s realities in check.


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Have a lovely Tuesday!Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.

She's autistic and interested in mental health and how technology can help Africans with mental disorders. Find her on Twitter @latoria_ria.
She's autistic and interested in mental health and how technology can help Africans with mental disorders. Find her on Twitter @latoria_ria.
She's autistic and interested in mental health and how technology can help Africans with mental disorders. Find her on Twitter @latoria_ria.

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