The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced that it now processes nearly 10,000 business registration requests daily, marking a significant increase from the “few hundreds” recorded in its early years. This remarkable growth follows the full deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across its service platforms.
However, the commission acknowledged that the transition to an AI-driven portal in 2025 caused some disruptions and temporary setbacks in productivity and service delivery.
Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar-General of CAC, disclosed this on Monday during the opening ceremony of the commission’s 35th anniversary celebration in Abuja. He described this milestone as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to formalize its economy.
The event, themed “Upholding Public Trust through Excellent Service Delivery,” celebrated CAC’s resilience, teamwork, and institutional evolution since its founding in 1991.
Established by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) of 1990, the CAC replaced Nigeria’s previously inefficient Company Registry. As an autonomous agency, it oversees company incorporation and regulation, business name registration, and trusteeship. It was further modernized by the CAMA 2020 reforms.
Magaji highlighted that CAC’s operations have transitioned into a fully digital, end-to-end registry accessible both within Nigeria and globally, 24/7.
Reflecting on the agency’s history, Magaji said, “When CAC was established in 1991, our story began modestly, operating from a single office in Abuja, serving the entire nation. Back then, business owners and associations had to travel across Nigeria to register entities, with processes heavily manual and records paper-based.”
He added, “Today, our services are no longer confined to one location. We have evolved from paper to portal, queues to clicks, stress to seamless service, and a single office to the entire world.”
He attributed the surge in registration volumes to tax reforms, government policies promoting the formalization of informal businesses, and the rapid growth of digital and social media-driven enterprises.
“Currently, CAC receives close to 10,000 registration requests daily, compared to only hundreds in the past,” Magaji noted. “Our complaint management system now handles about 5,000 inquiries daily via email and call centers.”
He emphasized that such high volumes are impossible to manage manually and credited AI with effectively augmenting human capacity with the required speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
While acknowledging that the transition in 2025 was challenging, Magaji remarked, “Transformational change is never easy. The disruptions and setbacks we experienced were part of the process. I appreciate the patience and understanding of our stakeholders and customers, and I remain committed to delivering services that meet global standards.”
Magaji also stressed that AI deployment was an essential step for CAC, which has already become a global leader in name reservation and business registration turnaround times, with some processes completed in as little as 10 minutes.
He announced a new strategic partnership with Google, signing a Letter of Collaboration to leverage global expertise and technological support to enhance service delivery. “This partnership will strengthen our systems, improve portal performance, and facilitate the ease of doing business in Nigeria,” he said.
Additionally, the commission unveiled a redesigned website (www.cac.gov.ng), featuring new AI-powered tools such as an AI Lawyer—offering instant legal guidance on CAC laws and procedures—and an AI Name Generator, enabling users to generate and reserve scalable business names effortlessly.
In celebration of its anniversary, CAC announced several initiatives, including free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Other programs include scholarships for the top corporate law students from each Nigerian Law School campus in 2026, donations of 120 mattresses to an IDP camp, support for orphanages, and a 25% staff bonus.
Additional staff benefits include special car and housing loan schemes, along with promotions for pioneers and retiring officers.
Magaji concluded, “As we reflect on our past, we are inspired by our future—one driven by technology, efficiency, transparency, and adherence to global standards.”
The Chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, Ahmed Munir, praised CAC’s digital transformation, emphasizing its role in empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening Nigeria’s economy. He called for continued collaboration to ensure regulatory barriers do not hinder Nigerian businesses and envisioned a future where Nigeria leads regional economic integration in West Africa through ECOWAS, supported by a shared corporate registry and stock market.
Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), pledged technical support for CAC’s AI initiatives, emphasizing that AI is essential for modern institutional transformation. He assured that NITDA would assist in deploying ethical and responsible AI solutions.
Since its establishment in 1991, the CAC has been central to Nigeria’s efforts to improve ease of doing business, expand the tax base, and formalize small and medium enterprises, playing a vital role in Nigeria’s economic development.