Nigeria: CAC and NIBSS Launch API-Driven Data Access Platform for Private Sector Compliance and Verification

In a significant step toward enhancing regulatory transparency and private sector interoperability, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has partnered with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to launch a robust Application Programming Interface (API) integration system. This new platform grants qualified private entities secure access to real-time company data from the CAC database—streamlining compliance, due diligence, and identity verification processes.

Speaking at the launch event in Abuja, CAC Registrar General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), described the initiative as a major milestone in the Commission’s digital transformation agenda and a proactive move to meet evolving stakeholder demands.

“This API integration is a testament to the Commission’s commitment to leveraging technology in order to enhance service delivery, regulatory compliance, and private sector efficiency,” Magaji stated.

Previously limited to select government agencies involved in investigations, anti-money laundering (AML), and counter-terrorism financing (CTF), access to CAC’s backend data is now being extended to vetted private companies through licensed “super agents”—technology-driven intermediaries approved to process specific data requests on behalf of clients.

The platform is fully compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, ensuring that sensitive information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth are appropriately safeguarded under national data privacy guidelines.

“This is a targeted call to legal and tech-based firms equipped with the capacity to ensure secure integrations,” Magaji said. “We’ve onboarded NIPS initially due to their credibility. Now, banks, embassies, and other institutions can authenticate company records seamlessly.”

Companies currently involved in the program include NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE. While MoneyPoint and OPE are currently limited to business registration functions, NIPS has progressed further by offering identity validation and document verification services via the CAC data infrastructure.

CAC also confirmed that access fees are standardized and can be processed both via its official portal and through authorized agents—further expanding service touchpoints.

Representing NIBSS, Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director and delegate of Managing Director Premier Oiwoh, emphasized that the API initiative represents years of groundwork aimed at creating secure, cost-effective, and interoperable data systems for the financial and regulatory ecosystem.

“The collaboration enables real-time, rule-compliant verification of corporate data—reducing overhead and boosting trust in the digital economy,” she noted.

This initiative reflects a broader shift toward RegTech-driven governance models, empowering regulated entities with direct, lawful access to verifiable business information while fostering risk-based compliance, digital trust, and financial system integrity across Nigeria.