The Corporate Affairs Commission has disclosed that it now processes close to 10,000 business registration requests daily, a dramatic leap from the “few hundreds” recorded in its early years, following the full deployment of artificial intelligence across its service platforms.
The commission, however, admitted that the transition to an AI-driven portal caused disruptions and temporary setbacks in productivity and service delivery in 2025.
The Registrar-General of the commission, Hussaini Magaji, made this known on Monday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of CAC’s 35th anniversary celebration, where he described the milestone as a defining moment in Nigeria’s economic formalisation drive.
The event, themed “Upholding Public Trust through Excellent Service Delivery,” was held to celebrate the commission’s resilience, teamwork, and institutional evolution since its establishment in 1991.
The commission was established by the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 to replace the inefficient Company Registry.
As an autonomous body, it handles the incorporation and regulation of companies, business names, and incorporated trustees. It was modernised by CAMA 2020.
Speaking in his address, Magaji said CAC’s operations have since evolved into a fully digital, end-to-end registry, accessible across Nigeria and globally on a 24-hour, seven-day basis.
“When the Corporate Affairs Commission was established in 1991, our story began humbly, but with a bold mandate. At the time, CAC operated from a single office in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, serving the entire nation.”
He recalled that business owners and associations were then forced to travel from across the country to Abuja to register entities, as processes were entirely manual and records were paper-based.
“Service delivery was limited by geography and time. Yet, that single office laid the foundation for what has become one of Africa’s most dynamic and reform-driven corporate registries. Fast-forward to 2026, and our services are no longer confined to one location,” he said. “This is our evolution: from paper to portal, from queues to clicks, from stress to seamless, from one office to the world.”
He attributed the surge in registration volumes to tax reforms, government policies promoting the formalisation of informal businesses, and the rapid growth of digital and social media-driven enterprises.
“To put this into perspective, CAC now receives close to 10,000 business registration requests daily, compared to only hundreds in the past,” Magaji said. “In addition, our complaint management system, through emails and call centres, now handles an average of 5,000 inquiries every single day.”
He argued that such volumes would be impossible to manage manually. “Imagine the number of staff required to manage this volume. Only AI can effectively complement human capacity with the required speed, accuracy, and precision,” he added.
He, however, acknowledged that the year was particularly challenging due to the transition, noting that transformational change often comes with initial difficulties.
“I must acknowledge, however, that 2025 was particularly challenging. The transition to an AI-driven portal came with disruptions and temporary setbacks in productivity and service delivery in some areas. Transformational change is never easy. Nevertheless, I sincerely appreciate our stakeholders and customers for their patience, understanding, and confidence that the desired outcomes will emerge.
“As I have consistently assured you, I will not relent until the CAC delivers services that rank among the best in the world. Indeed, nothing truly good comes easy. Today is not merely a celebration of time; it is a celebration of purpose, resilience, transformation, and national impact,” Magaji said.
Magaji described the commission’s AI transition as inevitable, stressing that CAC had already become a global reference point in name reservation and business name registration, with turnaround times of as little as 10 minutes.
“Let me state clearly: the deployment of AI at CAC is not optional; it is necessary. Nevertheless, I sincerely appreciate our stakeholders and customers for their patience, understanding, and confidence that the desired outcomes would emerge.”
To deepen its digital transformation, Magaji announced the signing of a Letter of Collaboration between CAC and Google, describing it as a strategic partnership to strengthen service delivery. “Google brings global expertise and technological support that will further strengthen our systems, enhance portal performance, and deepen the ease of doing business in Nigeria,” he said.
He also unveiled a redesigned CAC website (www.cac.gov.ng) featuring new AI-powered tools, including an AI Lawyer, which provides instant responses on CAC laws and procedures, and an AI Name Generator, which allows users to generate and reserve scalable business names with ease.
As part of its anniversary initiatives, the commission approved free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Other initiatives include scholarships for the six best corporate law students from each campus of the Nigerian Law School in 2026, donation of 120 mattresses to an IDP camp, support for orphanages, and a 25 per cent commemorative staff bonus. Special car and housing loan schemes were also announced for staff, alongside board-recommended promotions for pioneers and retiring officers.
“As we celebrate the past, we are even more inspired by the future, one driven by technology, efficiency, transparency, and global standards.
“In the spirit of this celebration, the management of CAC has approved the following initiatives: free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses, to be distributed across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory; scholarships for six best corporate law students from each of the six campuses of the Nigerian Law School for the year 2026, in support of corporate law studies; donation of 120 mattresses to an IDP camp; and support for orphanages as part of our social responsibility.
“Equally, in recognition of our resilient staff who have driven these reforms, and in line with our Conditions of Service, particularly Paragraph 6.02, I am pleased to announce a commemorative staff bonus of 25 per cent of one month’s gross salary, applicable for this month only. Special car loan and special housing loan.
“Finally, to our pioneers and retiring staff who could not make it in the current promotion exercise, the Management has recommended their promotion to our Board in line with our Conditions of Service,” he concluded.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, Ahmed Munir, said the commission’s digital transformation had simplified the process of business registration and empowered millions of entrepreneurs to transition from the informal to the formal economy.
According to him, CAC’s reforms have strengthened Nigeria’s structured economy by easing the journey from business ideas to fully registered corporations. He urged stakeholders to work together to ensure that no Nigerian entrepreneur is hindered by regulatory barriers but supported by an efficient and ambitious system.
“Embrace the digital frontier by simplifying the path from idea to corporation. You have empowered millions of entrepreneurs to move from the informal sector into the structured economy.
“I see a future where ECOWAS shall be freely integrated with a West Africa Corporate Affairs Commission headquartered in Nigeria, backed by an ECOWAS stock market to expand capital within ECOWAS communities, becoming a major player in the technical community and the global market square. Our committee remains committed to providing legislative support, as necessary, to further enhance your digital infrastructure and transparency.
“We view the CAC not just with recognition, but with responsibility. As we look to the future, let us remember that every certificate issued is more than just paper. Let us work with vigour to ensure that no Nigerian entrepreneur is held back by regulation, but is instead propelled by a system that is as fair and ambitious as they are. Together, we are not just registering companies; we are igniting the engine of the giant of Africa. Congratulations to the men and women of staff; onward to greater heights,” he said.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, pledged technical backing for CAC’s AI reforms. “We are in the era of artificial intelligence, and the only way to transform institutions today is to embrace and integrate AI into operations,” Abdullahi said, assuring the commission of support in deploying ethical and responsible AI solutions.
Established in 1991, the Corporate Affairs Commission is Nigeria’s statutory body for the registration and regulation of companies, business names, and incorporated trustees. Its reforms are central to the Federal Government’s drive to improve Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business ranking, expand the tax base, and formalise micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises.
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