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- CAC’s New AI-powered business registration portal handles 11,000 daily transactions, speeds up certificate issuance.
- Real-Time Name Approvals and Certificate Issuance Now Possible
- Challenges Persist with NIN, Payment Gateways, and Tax Platforms
- New Security and Support Systems Strengthen User Experience
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has recorded a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey with its AI-powered business registration portal. It now handles over 11,000 transactions daily since its launch on June 30, 2025.
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Designed to accelerate name reservations, certificate issuance, and overall business formation, the new portal has drastically cut processing times. The CAC reports that business registration certificates can now be issued within 30 minutes. Once the applicant’s National Identification Number (NIN) is successfully verified, the certificate is automatically generated.
“You can’t compare AI with humans for service delivery. Last Friday alone, we processed 8,000 name reservation requests. This is something that would have taken two weeks manually,” the Commission stated in a release issued this week.
Game-Changing Features for Entrepreneurs
The AI platform introduces a more inclusive and accessible registration experience, especially for startups and SMEs in Nigeria. One standout feature allows users to test multiple business name options without upfront payment. This effectively lowers financial entry barriers for aspiring business owners.
This innovation directly supports Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business reforms. It streamlines what was once a paper-heavy, slow process into a fast, technology-enabled service.
Persistent Technical Challenges and Ongoing Fixes
Despite these gains, the Commission acknowledged that technical issues persist, particularly those tied to external systems the portal relies on:
- NIN Verification Delays caused by outages from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal
- Payment Disruptions linked to the REMITA payment gateway
- Stamp Duty Issues due to downtimes on the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s ProTax platform
To mitigate these setbacks, the CAC has sought approval from the Federal Treasury to integrate an alternative payment solution, allowing users to complete transactions even when REMITA is down.
Boosting Platform Security and Customer Support
In a bid to protect user data and enhance security, the CAC has implemented One-Time Passwords (OTPs) for all transactions on the platform. Additionally, a new help desk has been introduced, now handling up to 3,000 customer complaints daily, enabling faster issue resolution and real-time bug detection.
The Commission also confirmed that continuous software patches are being deployed to restore full functionality to affected features and enhance long-term system stability.
Fee Adjustments to Fund Sustainability
To ensure the platform’s sustainability, the CAC reiterated that the fee adjustments announced in June will officially take effect on August 1, 2025. These funds will be used to support ongoing upgrades, cybersecurity enhancements, and improved user experiences.
A Major Boost for MSMEs in Nigeria
For Nigeria’s booming micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector, the AI-powered registration system marks a turning point. Entrepreneurs can now start and scale businesses faster, with streamlined name reservation, approval, and certificate processing, all accessible via a single digital platform.
This development aligns with the federal government’s digital economy agenda and sets a new benchmark for public sector innovation in Nigeria.
