By Charles Pemu 
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has commenced the pilot phase of its newly upgraded Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered business registration portal, marking a major step in Nigeria’s digital transformation and business facilitation efforts.
The announcement was made by the Registrar-General of the CAC, Malam Hussaini Magaji, during the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum held in Port Harcourt. Describing the development as a significant milestone in the country’s drive to enhance ease of doing business, Magaji stated that the new platform represents a complete overhaul of the Commission’s existing Company Registration Portal (CRP), integrating cutting-edge AI capabilities designed to simplify and speed up the registration process.
According to him, the enhanced portal allows users to reserve business names instantly, comparing the experience to setting up an email account. The AI system is also programmed to suggest alternative names where the preferred choice is unavailable and can approve those names in real time.
A key innovation of the platform is its integration with the National Identification Number (NIN), which allows individuals to register a business using only the NIN of a director or proprietor. The upgraded portal has an ambitious goal of completing the entire registration process and generating a certificate within 30 minutes, provided the user’s NIN can be validated in real-time through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
While acknowledging that occasional delays may arise from external data verification, Magaji assured stakeholders that a contingency system powered by AI-based photo ID matching had been built into the platform to resolve such issues quickly and efficiently.
Speaking on the Commission’s strategic partnerships, the Registrar-General disclosed that the CAC is currently reviewing over 100 Super Agent applications, including submissions from outside the country. He cited the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) as one of the key potential collaborators, highlighting the Commission’s intention to expand access and deepen private-sector involvement in the business registration process.
Magaji also announced that new digital security features, including two-factor authentication and One-Time Password (OTP) verification for all transactions, would be deployed soon to prevent unauthorized changes to company records. In addition, he revealed that the CAC would launch a dedicated mobile app by the fourth quarter of 2025, allowing users to initiate and monitor transactions from their mobile devices.
In a move aimed at supporting the Commission’s ongoing digital transformation and ensuring service sustainability, the Registrar-General said a review of certain CAC service fees will take effect from August 1, 2025.
The Port Harcourt stakeholders’ forum drew the participation of key industry leaders and professional groups. Among them were Cordelia Eke, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch; Mr. Sebastian Essien, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN); Mr. Dogala Sakpege, Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME); and Dr. Mechi Brown, Director of Industry at the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
During the interactive session, a CAC technical team was on hand to address stakeholder complaints and provide real-time solutions to registration and compliance issues, further reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to customer support and digital excellence.