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CAC Launches AI-Driven Registration Portal – A New Era for Nigerian Business
By TalkBrand Africa Reporter
July 1, 2025, Lagos – The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has unveiled a pioneering AI-powered business registration portal, marking a significant leap in Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business reforms. Registrar-General Hussaini Ishaq Magaji described the initiative during the 2025 Stakeholders Forum in Port Harcourt as a “game-changer” that promises to simplify the registration process and slash timelines.
“It is intelligently designed to suggest available alternatives and grant real-time approvals, removing the traditional bottlenecks,” Magaji stated, comparing the ease of the portal to setting up an email account.
With AI-driven name reservation and instant certificate issuance within 30 minutes—based solely on verified National ID Numbers (NIN)—Nigeria’s nascent entrepreneurs and SMEs now have a faster route to formalisation and legitimacy.
Magaji explained that after real-time NIN validation, a certified incorporation document will be emailed directly to the applicant, drastically reducing previous bureaucratic delays.
Acknowledging that delays may occasionally occur due to external NIMC validation, he revealed,
“A contingency solution using AI-powered photo ID matching [is in place] to overcome such hitches.”
Further bolstering the portal’s security is a two-factor authentication system utilizing one-time passwords (OTP), designed to prevent unauthorised changes to corporate data.
To enhance user access, the CAC has announced plans for a mobile app rollout by Q4 2025, enabling real-time monitoring of company registrations and transactions on the go.
Beyond technology upgrades, the CAC is reviewing fee structures effective August 1, 2025, to ensure service sustainability amid the digital overhaul.
What It Means for Businesses
This launch aligns with broader reform efforts: the CAC is assessing more than 100 partnership proposals — including one from the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) — aimed at widening service delivery through “Super Agent” models.
Tech-focused outlets highlight the move’s strategic value, pointing out that with Nigeria’s 40 million MSMEs, but fewer than 10% formally registered, this AI portal could unlock mass inclusion, improve access to finance, and bring Nigeria closer to global standards.
Key Takeaways
- Speed: Business registration now in under 30 minutes, email-delivered.
- Ease: Name reservations and NIN validations are fully automated.
- Security: OTP and multi-factor authentication safeguard company integrity.
- Access: A mobile app is launching soon, broadening user convenience.
- Support: Fee adjustments and Super Agent models will widen reach.
As Nigeria races to formalise its economy, the CAC’s AI portal could mark a turning point—bridging long-standing gaps in business registration and unlocking new growth for entrepreneurs.
(c) TALKBRAND AFRICA