FG reopens free CAC registration for 250,000 Nigerian small businesses

The Federal Government has reopened a programme offering free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration to 250,000 nano, micro and small businesses across Nigeria, giving entrepreneurs another opportunity to formalise their operations without paying the usual business-name registration fee.

The initiative is being implemented by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with the CAC and is targeted at qualifying businesses that have not previously obtained CAC registration.

SMEDAN’s official platform currently lists a dedicated CAC Registration Service, confirming that the registration facility is active. The portal allows applicants to provide their proposed business name, line of business and other required details.

Who can benefit?

The programme is designed for nano, micro and small enterprises seeking to move from informal operations into the formal economy.

Entrepreneurs already captured in the SMEDAN database but without CAC registration may also be eligible, subject to the programme’s requirements.

For successful applicants, the statutory cost of registering the business name is covered under the initiative. Beyond registration, the broader SMEDAN platform offers access to government and private-sector support, including training, financial-service opportunities and other business-development programmes.

The free registration initiative was originally announced by SMEDAN in September 2025 as a partnership with CAC aimed at registering 250,000 MSMEs.

How entrepreneurs can apply

Interested business owners are expected to begin through the official SMEDAN platform.

Applicants can create an account by providing their first name, last name, email address and password.

They are then required to provide information about the business, including its proposed name, nature of operations, business location and other details needed for verification.

The onboarding process also includes business-description and owner-information stages. SMEDAN's portal currently provides a CAC registration pathway where applicants can proceed with their business details and proprietor information.

Applicants should ensure that the information submitted is accurate, particularly details relating to their identity and business ownership. The platform also provides NIN verification as part of its onboarding process.

Beware of people asking for payment

Entrepreneurs should be particularly cautious about agents or individuals claiming they can secure a place in the programme in exchange for money.

The registration initiative is intended to remove the cost barrier for eligible beneficiaries, so applicants should use only SMEDAN's official channels rather than paying unofficial intermediaries.

The official SMEDAN portal currently provides both account registration and CAC registration services.

Why CAC registration matters

For many small businesses, formal registration is more than simply obtaining a certificate.

A registered business can have greater credibility when dealing with customers, suppliers and financial institutions, while formal business documentation can also be useful when applying for government programmes, financing and other support opportunities.

SMEDAN says its broader services are designed to connect businesses with resources that can help them grow, including loans, grants, insurance, training and private-sector opportunities.

The agency also operates programmes focused on business skills, digital capacity, market access and entrepreneurship development.

For thousands of Nigerian entrepreneurs still operating without formal registration, the reopening therefore presents an opportunity to obtain CAC registration without bearing the usual registration cost.

Interested business owners should apply through the official SMEDAN platform and avoid anyone demanding payment to “fast-track” or guarantee approval.

Official SMEDAN CAC Registration Portal