By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Federal Government has unveiled a nationwide scheme to provide free business registration for 250,000 nano, micro and small enterprises (MSMEs).
The initiative, driven by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), was launched in Abuja on Friday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies.
Speaking at the event, CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, said the programme is aimed at breaking the barriers of cost and bureaucracy that keep many small businesses informal.
“By removing the cost of business name registration for 250,000 businesses, we are helping more entrepreneurs take the first step toward growth, legitimacy and access to bigger opportunities. The Commission is forgoing about ₦3 billion in fees to make this possible,” Magaji said.
SMEDAN Director-General, Dr. Charles Odii, explained that the collaboration goes beyond registration to include aftercare support.
“Formalization is the gateway to support. Once businesses are onboarded into our database, they can access grants, training, technical assistance and new markets. Every MSME in our database without a CAC registration will be offered this free opportunity,” Odii noted.
He added that support would be provided for entrepreneurs who are not digitally inclined through SMEDAN state offices and physical business clinics.
The agencies also assured that concerns about taxation had been addressed in the new tax framework taking effect in 2026, which raises the exemption threshold for small businesses.
The initiative, officials said, aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda to strengthen the MSME ecosystem, promote formalization, and reduce barriers to growth.
Interested entrepreneurs are advised to visit portal.smedan.gov.ng to complete their registration.