The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has introduced a new online portal that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make registering a business in Nigeria faster and easier.
The announcement was made by the Registrar-General of CAC, Malam Hussaini Magaji, during the 2025 stakeholders forum in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Magaji emphasized that this new portal represents a significant step forward in helping people start businesses in Nigeria.
The updated system improves upon the old Company Registration Portal (CRP) and includes features designed to streamline the registration process.
He said that one of the key improvements is that users can now quickly reserve a name for their business, similar to how easy it is to create an email account.
The AI in the system can also suggest alternative names if the one an applicant wants is already taken, it can approve the names almost instantly.
Another exciting feature is that anyone can register their business using only the National Identification Number (NIN) of a director or owner.
The goal is to complete the entire registration process and issue a certificate within 30 minutes, although it may take a bit longer if the system needs to confirm information from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
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Magaji also mentioned that to help address possible delays, the CAC has developed a solution using AI to match photo identities.
The CAC, he added, is working closely with private sector partners, is reviewing more than 100 applications from super agents, including some from abroad and is collaborating on the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
To enhance security, the new portal will include features like two-factor authentication and one-time password verification for all transactions, ensuring that company records are protected from unauthorized changes.
Additionally, a CAC mobile app is set to be launched in the last quarter of 2025, allowing users to complete transactions and monitor their registration progress conveniently from their phones.
As part of improving their services, the CAC will also review certain service fees starting August 1, to ensure they can continue delivering quality service and support the ongoing digital transformation.
The event was attended by various key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries, and the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.
