The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) will begin using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business registration and name availability checks.
Registrar-General Hussaini Magaji made the announcement at the CAC Stakeholders’ Customers Forum held Tuesday in Lagos. Represented by his Special Adviser, Justine Nidiya, Magaji said the AI integration would start with a pilot phase focused on business name availability and company incorporation.
“This move aligns with global trends. By 2030, 80 percent of jobs could be automated,” Magaji said. “CAC is simply embracing the future.”
He added that the CAC would gradually expand AI usage across more of its operations after evaluating the pilot’s performance.
The CAC organised the year’s first forum to gather feedback on its performance and future direction. Magaji also announced plans to introduce more Value-Added Services (VAS) tailored to meet stakeholders’ specific needs. He explained that the commission would license organisations with strong APIs to extract CAC data in customised formats.
“The Intelligent CRP 3.0, our AI-driven Company Registration Portal, will improve efficiency and reduce human error,” Magaji said. “We need every stakeholder to work with us on this.”
He acknowledged current economic challenges, including inflation, rising fuel prices, and the impact of foreign exchange reforms, which he said had increased operational costs for the commission. He hinted that a review of filing fees might be necessary to maintain service delivery.
Magaji called on the business community to view formalisation not as a burden, but as a national duty.
“No country can develop meaningfully when 90 percent of MSMEs operate informally,” he said.
Ozofu Ogiemudia, Chair of the Nigeria Bar Association’s Section on Business Law, praised the CAC for timely issue resolution and proactive innovation.
Efosa Ewere, Chairperson of the ICSAN Lagos Chapter, also welcomed the CAC’s decision, saying AI would “enable smoother, faster communication on the portal.”
The business registration process in Nigeria is poised for a major transformation with the CAC’s AI rollout.
