CAC Unveils AI-Powered Registration Portal to Revolutionize Business Registration in Nigeria

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)  has launched a new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered business registration portal, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey for corporate services. The announcement was made by the Registrar-General and CEO, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, during the 2025 Stakeholders Forum held in Port Harcourt.

The initiative is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at overhauling the existing Company Registration Portal (CRP) to enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria. With the new platform, name reservation is now designed to be as seamless as opening an email account, offering instant approvals for available business names. The system also intelligently suggests alternative name options, reducing delays and boosting user convenience.

One of the most notable innovations is the NIN-only registration feature, which allows entrepreneurs to register their businesses using just the National Identification Number (NIN) of a director or proprietor. According to the CAC, the target time for full business registration—from name reservation to certificate issuance—is now under 30 minutes, pending real-time NIN verification. In anticipation of potential delays from external sources like NIMC, a contingency AI-based photo ID matching system has been developed to ensure continuity.

The Registrar-General also disclosed that CAC is reviewing over 100 partnership requests from Super Agents, both domestic and international, including entities like the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). This aligns with the Commission’s vision to extend its reach and simplify access to corporate services.

Further developments announced include the upcoming rollout of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and OTP verification for all transactions, to prevent unauthorized changes to company records. In addition, a CAC Mobile App is expected by the last quarter of 2025, enabling business owners to manage and track their registrations on the go.

To sustain these improvements and fund additional reforms, CAC will implement a review of selected service fees effective August 1, 2025.

The event featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association (Port Harcourt Branch), Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSAN), and the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME). Representatives from the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Institute of Chartered Accountants (Port Harcourt Branch) also addressed the audience.

A technical team from CAC was present to provide real-time support and resolve customer complaints during the forum, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to transparent and responsive service delivery.