In a significant step toward enhancing Nigeria’s ease of doing business, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has unveiled an AI-powered business registration portal that allows users to complete company registration within just 30 minutes.
The launch, which took place at the CAC Stakeholders’ Forum in Port Harcourt in early July 2025, marks a bold transition from the old Company Registration Portal (CRP) to an intelligent platform that integrates real-time verification, AI-based decision-making, and enhanced user convenience.
Key Features of the CAC AI-Powered Portal
1. 30-Minute Business Registration
The new portal drastically cuts registration time, allowing businesses to be incorporated in under 30 minutes. Using artificial intelligence, the system automates name approval, form verification, and certificate issuance.
2. NIN-Based Registration Only
Applicants now only need their National Identification Number (NIN) to register a company. Once verified, the incorporation certificate is sent directly to their email—no physical visit required.
3. AI-Powered Name Suggestions and Approval
If a chosen business name is already taken, the AI suggests real-time alternatives, mimicking the ease of setting up an email account.
4. Contingency AI for Identity Verification
In cases where NIMC systems are slow, the CAC system uses AI photo-ID matching to verify applicants, ensuring a seamless process even under network delays.
5. Upcoming 2FA Security Upgrade
To boost security, the CAC is introducing two-factor authentication (2FA) using OTPs. Only registered directors will be allowed to approve post-registration changes, enhancing data protection.
6. Mobile App to Launch by Q4 2025
A mobile version of the CAC portal is in development and is expected to be launched by the end of 2025. This will provide users with 24/7 access to their registration status and business updates.
What This Means for Entrepreneurs and the Economy
With this new digital portal, Nigerian entrepreneurs can now register businesses faster than ever, helping more startups move from informal to formal structures. The reduced friction is expected to:
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Improve Nigeria’s global ranking on ease of doing business
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Encourage youth entrepreneurship and job creation
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Support government digitization and transparency initiatives
Super Agent Partnerships & Fee Revisions
CAC also disclosed that it is reviewing over 100 Super Agent proposals from both local and global partners, including fintech players and payment aggregators such as NIBSS, to support portal access and service delivery nationwide.
Additionally, a new service fee structure will go into effect from August 1, 2025, aimed at sustaining the portal and upcoming mobile app.
The Future of Government Services in Nigeria
The CAC’s AI portal is part of a growing trend in Nigeria’s public sector—leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline bureaucratic processes, reduce corruption, and deliver services faster and more transparently.
The AI-powered CAC registration portal is more than a digital upgrade—it’s a revolutionary tool that aligns Nigeria with global best practices in e-governance. By reducing business registration time to 30 minutes, the CAC is empowering startups, simplifying compliance, and opening new doors for economic growth.
As the mobile app launch nears and security upgrades roll out, the portal promises to become a benchmark for digital service delivery in Africa.
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