KEY POIONTS
- CAC business registration now averages 10,000 daily filings.
- CAC business registration growth followed digital reforms.
- The registration transition faced temporary setbacks.
Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission said it now processes close to 10,000 business registration requests each day, a sharp rise from the few hundred handled in its early years, as the agency completes a transition to a fully digital operating model.
The surge reflects growing formalisation of businesses across the country, driven by policy reforms, expanding entrepreneurship and the commission’s move to round-the-clock online services. Officials acknowledged, however, that the shift was not without disruption, with temporary declines in productivity recorded during the transition period in 2025.
CAC business registration expands after digital shift
Speaking at the opening of the commission’s 35th anniversary celebration in Abuja on Monday, Registrar-General Hussaini Magaji described the milestone as a turning point in Nigeria’s economic formalisation efforts.
Established in 1991 to replace the former Company Registry, the CAC began operations from a single office in Abuja, relying entirely on manual, paper-based processes. Business owners from across the country were required to travel to the capital to register entities, often facing long delays.
Magaji said the commission has since evolved into a fully digital registry, accessible globally on a 24-hour basis. He attributed the growth in CAC business registration volumes to tax reforms, government policies encouraging informal businesses to formalise, and the rise of digital and social media-driven enterprises.
In addition to registrations, he said the commission now handles about 5,000 customer inquiries daily through its complaint management system, volumes that would be difficult to manage without technology support.
CAC business registration faces transition challenges
Magaji acknowledged that the move to a new technology-driven portal created operational challenges last year, affecting service delivery in some areas. He said the difficulties were part of a broader transformation process and thanked users for their patience.
As part of efforts to strengthen its systems, the commission has entered into a collaboration with Google to improve platform performance and service delivery. It also unveiled a redesigned website featuring new tools, including automated legal guidance on CAC procedures and a name generation feature to speed up business name reservations.
To mark its anniversary, the CAC approved free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses nationwide and announced scholarships, staff incentives and social responsibility initiatives.
Speaking at the event, House of Representatives Committee on Commerce chairman Ahmed Munir finally said the commission’s reforms have simplified CAC business registration and helped millions of entrepreneurs move into the formal economy. The National Information Technology Development Agency also pledged technical support to sustain the commission’s reforms.
