CAC unveils AI-powered registration portal 

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has introduced a new artificial intelligence-powered registration portal, marking a significant advancement in Nigeria’s digital public administration.

Unveiled during the 2025 Stakeholders Forum in Port Harcourt, the new portal represents a complete overhaul of the Commission’s Company Registration Portal (CRP), designed to streamline services and simplify business onboarding processes.

Speaking at the forum, the Registrar-General and CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, announced that name reservations are now designed to be as straightforward as creating an email account, with instant approval granted for available names.

He explained that the AI system not only approves names on the spot but also recommends alternatives where needed, significantly reducing delays.

One of the standout features of the new system allows businesses to register using only the National Identification Number (NIN) of a director or proprietor. Magaji said the Commission is targeting a 30-minute turnaround time for generating and delivering registration certificates via email, subject to successful real-time NIN verification.

Acknowledging that occasional delays may occur due to external validations with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), he noted that a contingency solution using AI-powered photo ID matching has been built into the platform to address such issues.

Magaji also disclosed that the CAC is currently reviewing over 100 partnership proposals from super agents, including the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), both within and outside Nigeria, as part of efforts to expand access to its services.

Looking ahead, he announced that the Commission will soon introduce Two-Factor Authentication and One-Time Password (OTP) verification for all transactions, to ensure that no alterations to company records occur without the full consent of registered directors.

He further revealed that a CAC mobile application is expected to launch by the final quarter of 2025, aimed at enabling users to carry out seamless transactions and monitor progress from their devices.

To support ongoing reforms and sustain service quality, the Registrar-General confirmed that the Commission will implement an upward review of selected service fees, effective from 1 August 2025.

At the forum, goodwill messages were delivered by prominent figures 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 of Nigeria (ICSAN); and Elder Dogala Sakpege, Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

Other key speakers included Dr Mechi Brown, Director of Industry at the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Miema Akpa, representative of the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Port Harcourt Branch.

The event also featured an interactive session during which a CAC technical team was present to address customer complaints and technical concerns in real time.