CAC AI registration portal launched to simplify business registration, reduce delays, and issue certificates within 30 minutes via real-time NIN verification

CAC AI registration portal has officially launched, marking a new chapter in Nigeria’s business registration process and promising to transform the Corporate Affairs Commission’s service delivery.

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The announcement was made during the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, where the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, introduced the pilot version of an artificial intelligence-powered portal set to overhaul the existing Company Registration Platform.

According to the CAC, the upgraded system is a game-changer. It introduces automated intelligence to simplify business registration, cut processing time, and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“The new system will allow instant name reservation approvals, just like opening an email account,” Magaji explained to stakeholders.

He noted that the CAC AI registration portal is designed to make the process seamless by suggesting available alternatives and granting real-time approvals.

Once a user submits their application with a valid National Identification Number, the portal verifies the data instantly and delivers a certificate of incorporation to the applicant’s email address—within 30 minutes.

“Our target time for business registration is under 30 minutes to generate a certificate and deliver it to the customer’s email, subject to real-time NIN verification,” Magaji said.

Though the commission acknowledged that occasional verification delays may occur due to third-party dependencies on the National Identity Management Commission, Magaji assured stakeholders that a robust contingency mechanism has been implemented.

The system leverages AI-powered photo identification technology to resolve such obstacles.

To further strengthen security and accountability, Magaji revealed that the CAC will introduce two-factor authentication, including OTP verification for all transactions on the portal.

We want to assure the business community that all company records are now protected by enhanced digital security. There will be no unauthorised changes.

This will ensure that no modifications can be made to a company’s record without the knowledge and authorisation of the registered directors.

He said, “We want to assure the business community that all company records are now protected by enhanced digital security. There will be no unauthorised changes.”

As part of broader efforts to modernise the CAC’s operations, Magaji announced that a mobile application will be rolled out in Q4 2025.

The app will enable entrepreneurs and professionals to track and manage their registration processes from anywhere.

In a significant development, the commission also disclosed it is currently reviewing over 100 partnership requests from both local and international super agents.

These include proposals from the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System and other fintech organisations, which aim to streamline the registration process and deepen access.

Beyond digital upgrades, Magaji disclosed that a comprehensive review of CAC service fees will take effect from August 1, 2025.

This adjustment, he explained, is essential to maintaining service quality and sustaining the newly introduced reforms.

According to him, “Our commitment is not just to faster processing, but also to world-class service delivery. This review will support that mandate.”

The forum featured goodwill messages from key industry leaders including Cordelia U. Eke of the Nigerian Bar Association (Port Harcourt Branch), Sir Sebastian Essien of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and Elder Dogala Sakpege of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Also present were Mechi Brown, Director of Industry at the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Miema Akpa, representing the Port Harcourt branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

To assist stakeholders on-site, a CAC technical team was available at the forum to resolve complaints and offer immediate support for registration issues.

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With the CAC AI registration portal now operational, Nigeria’s business ecosystem is poised for a significant boost in speed, reliability, and investor confidence.