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In a landmark step toward deepening Nigeria’s digital governance and improving the ease of doing business, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has launched a pilot Artificial Intelligence-powered business registration portal. The initiative marks a significant overhaul of the existing Company Registration Portal (CRP), aligning with the federal government’s broader digital transformation agenda.
Speaking at the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum, Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), described the AI-driven platform as a transformative innovation poised to accelerate business formalisation nationwide.
“This portal is designed to function like opening an email account. It offers intelligent name search suggestions and grants instant approvals, eliminating long-standing bottlenecks in Nigeria’s company registration process,” Magaji stated.
Faster, Smarter Registration
One of the platform’s most groundbreaking features is its ability to complete business registration within 30 minutes, contingent on real-time National Identification Number (NIN) verification. With only a valid NIN from a director or proprietor, users can generate a certificate of incorporation and receive it directly via email—ushering in a new era of speed, transparency, and efficiency.
To address instances where NIN verification fails, Magaji noted that the system leverages AI-based photo ID matchingas a fallback mechanism, ensuring applicants are not stalled due to identity verification lags.
Security and User Control
To further strengthen security and user confidence, the Commission is introducing a two-factor authentication systemfeaturing One-Time Password (OTP) verification for all transactions. This measure will ensure that no changes can be made to company records without the verified consent of registered directors.
Magaji also announced that a dedicated CAC mobile app will debut in Q4 2025, offering businesses and individuals mobile access to track applications, manage profiles, and perform key transactions on the go.
Broader Access and Partnerships
To extend the reach of the digital services, the CAC is currently reviewing over 100 partnership requests from both domestic and international service agents, including the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). These collaborations are expected to deepen nationwide access to CAC’s services and streamline integration with payment and identity infrastructure.
Upcoming Fee Review
The Commission also revealed plans to commence a review of its service charges effective August 1, 2025, citing the need to sustain service quality and support ongoing digital reforms.
Stakeholder Engagement and On-the-Spot Resolutions
The forum featured goodwill messages from key representatives of the legal, accounting, and business sectors, including Cordelia U. Eke, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch; Sir Sebastian Essien, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators; and Elder Dogala Sakpege, Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Also present were Dr. Mechi Brown, Director of Industry at the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Miema Akpa, who represented the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Chapter.
A CAC technical team was on-site to resolve registration challenges and demonstrate the portal’s new features to participants.
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