CAC unveils AI-powered business registration portal to boost efficiency

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has launched a pilot version of its new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven registration portal, aimed at revolutionizing business registration in Nigeria.

Registrar-General of the CAC, Malam Hussaini Magaji, announced the development during the 2025 Stakeholders Forum in Port Harcourt, describing it as a significant leap forward in the country’s business facilitation agenda.

Magaji said the new portal represents a complete overhaul of the existing Company Registration Portal (CRP), featuring advanced AI capabilities to streamline the registration process and reduce turnaround time.

Among the key features of the upgraded system is instant name reservation, with the AI able to suggest and approve alternative business names in real-time—making the process as simple as creating an email account.

Another innovation is the option to register a business using only the National Identification Number (NIN) of a director or proprietor. According to Magaji, the goal is to complete the entire registration process, including certificate generation, within 30 minutes—pending successful real-time NIN validation.

The CAC’s AI-powered portal is expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic delays, enhance user experience, and promote ease of doing business across the country.