Micah Jonah, 10 February 2026
The Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, has announced a nationwide initiative to register 3,500 small businesses free of charge across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Registrar General of the Commission, Hussaini Magaji, disclosed the development on Monday, noting that the programme is aimed at easing the burden of business formalisation for micro and small enterprises while encouraging more Nigerians to operate within the formal economy.
According to him, the initiative reflects the Commission’s commitment towards promoting entrepreneurship, reducing start up costs and supporting inclusive economic growth across the country.
He explained that beneficiaries will be drawn from all states of the federation and the FCT, stressing that formal registration will enable small businesses to access government support, financial services and broader economic opportunities.
“In the spirit of this celebration, the CAC has approved free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses nationwide,” the Commission stated.
Magaji also highlighted the Commission’s progress over the past 35 years, describing the CAC as a product of vision, innovation and sustained commitment to national development. He noted that the agency has evolved into a technology driven institution focused on efficiency, transparency and global best practices.
He further revealed plans by the Commission to strengthen its digital infrastructure through a collaboration with Google, a move expected to improve service delivery and enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
In addition, the Registrar General announced the launch of a redesigned CAC website featuring new digital tools, including an AI powered legal assistant and a business name generator. He said the tools are designed to provide instant guidance on CAC procedures and simplify the reservation of scalable business names for entrepreneurs.
