The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has taken a bold step toward transforming Nigeria’s business landscape by launching an AI-powered portal that promises to complete company registrations within 30 minutes.
Registrar-General Hussaini Ishaq Magaji announced the innovation at the 2025 stakeholders Forum held on July 1 at Port Harcourt.
This new portal marks a significant upgrade from the previous Company Registration Portal, streamlining the entire registration process.
By leveraging AI technology, the system instantly verifies business names and allows entrepreneurs to register their companies using only the National Identification Number (NIN) of a director or proprietor.
Once the NIN is authenticated in real-time through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the portal automatically generates and sends the certificate of incorporation directly to the applicant’s email.
Magaji emphasised that the portal simplifies registration to a level “as easy as opening an email account.”
The AI system intelligently suggests alternative business names whenever a preferred name is unavailable, eliminating the frustrating delays that often plagued name reservation in the past.
To ensure uninterrupted service, the CAC has introduced a backup AI-powered photo ID matching system that kicks in whenever NIN verification experiences delays, allowing registration to proceed smoothly without compromising security.
Read also: CAC gives 6-week ultimatum to unregistered businesses
Speaking on security enhancements, Magaji revealed that the portal will soon incorporate two-factor authentication to ensure that only registered directors can approve any changes to company records, safeguarding businesses from unauthorised modifications.
The launch of this portal comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy. With an estimated 40 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, but fewer than 10% formally registered, the CAC’s innovation aims to bridge this gap.
By drastically reducing registration time and simplifying procedures, the portal encourages more businesses to formalise, thereby unlocking access to finance, government incentives, and increased investor confidence.
In addition, the CAC is expanding its network by reviewing applications from over 100 local and international Super Agents, including the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). This expansion will further increase accessibility to the portal across Nigeria.
Registrar-General Magaji described the AI-powered portal as a “game-changer” that will not only enhance the ease of doing business but also position Nigeria as a leader in digital government services in Africa.
As the CAC continues to roll out additional features—such as a dedicated mobile app slated for release later this year—the future looks promising for Nigerian entrepreneurs eager to register and grow their businesses quickly and securely.
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