The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has unveiled a pilot Artificial Intelligence-driven registration portal designed to transform the current Company Registration process.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, the Registrar-General and CEO of CAC, announced the launch during the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum meeting. The commission described this innovative platform as a major breakthrough aimed at drastically reducing registration timelines and improving ease of doing business nationwide.
The new system offers instant name reservation approvals, similar to setting up an email account. Magaji explained, “The portal intelligently suggests available name alternatives and provides real-time approvals, eliminating traditional bottlenecks.”
One of the portal’s key features is its ability to register businesses using just the National Identification Number (NIN) of a director or proprietor. Upon successful real-time NIN verification, a certificate of incorporation is generated and emailed to applicants within 30 minutes.
Magaji emphasized, “Our goal is to complete business registration and certificate delivery in under 30 minutes, contingent on real-time NIN validation.”
While some delays may occur due to external verifications from the National Identity Management Commission, the platform incorporates an AI-powered photo ID matching system to address such challenges.
Additionally, CAC plans to introduce two-factor authentication with OTP verification for all transactions, ensuring company records cannot be altered without the explicit consent of registered directors.
Looking ahead, a CAC mobile app will be launched in Q4 2025 to enable users to monitor and manage their transactions conveniently from their devices.
Magaji also revealed ongoing discussions with over 100 local and international partners, including the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System, to expand access and streamline services further.
In line with these enhancements, CAC will review its service fees starting August 1, 2025, to support quality service delivery and ongoing reforms.
The forum featured goodwill messages from prominent industry leaders including the Nigerian Bar Association’s Port Harcourt Chairman, Cordelia U. Eke; the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators’ Chairman, Sir Sebastian Essien; and Elder Dogala Sakpege of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Representatives from the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Port Harcourt branch, also attended.
A dedicated CAC technical team was present throughout the event to address customer concerns and provide immediate solutions to registration issues.
For professional advice on Accountancy, Transfer Pricing, Tax, Assurance, Outsourcing, online accounting support, Company Registration, and CAC matters, please contact Sunmola David & CO (Chartered Accountants & Tax Practitioners) at Lagos, Ogun state Nigeria offices, www.sunmoladavid.com. You can also reach us via WhatsApp at +2348038460036.
