The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a free business name registration initiative for 3,500 small businesses across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by Hussaini Magaji, Registrar General of the CAC, during events marking the Commission’s 35th anniversary.
Magaji explained that the initiative aims to reduce the cost of formalisation for micro and small enterprises, making it easier for them to operate legally and access government support.
“In the spirit of the celebration, the CAC announced Free Business Name Registration for 3,500 small businesses, distributed across the 36 states and the FCT,” the statement said.
According to the Registrar General, the programme is designed to encourage more small enterprises to formalise their operations, thereby expanding access to financing opportunities, government services, and wider economic participation.
CAC at 35: A Story of Innovation and Technology
Reflecting on the Commission’s journey, Magaji described the CAC at 35 as a story of vision, innovation, and sustained commitment to national development. He highlighted that the Commission has evolved into a technology-driven institution, with a focus on efficiency, transparency, and adherence to global best practices.
On the technology front, the Registrar General revealed that CAC plans to partner with Google to strengthen its digital infrastructure and service delivery.
He also announced the launch of a redesigned CAC website featuring new digital tools, including:
An AI Lawyer, which provides instant guidance on CAC laws and procedures.
A business name generator, which simplifies the reservation of scalable business names.
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Building on Past Initiatives
The current free registration initiative builds on a previous exercise conducted in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). That earlier programme aimed to register 250,000 youth-led businesses at no cost, though the total number of registrations since its launch in October last year remains unclear.
Magaji urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of government initiatives to formalise their businesses and gain access to economic opportunities.
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CAC’s Commitment to Compliance
While encouraging new business registration, the CAC has also demonstrated that it will not tolerate inactivity or non-compliance. Over the weekend, the Commission disclosed that it deregistered over 400,000 companies in 2025 due to prolonged inactivity and failure to meet statutory requirements.
Magaji said the mass deregistration was necessary to:
Remove inactive and non-compliant entities from the national register
Strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s corporate regulatory framework
Ensure transparency and credibility in the business environment
The initiative reflects the CAC’s ongoing commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, reducing startup costs, and promoting inclusive economic growth across Nigeria.
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