Free CAC Business Name Registration Opens for 250,000 Nigerian Small Businesses
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has begun processing approvals for a free business name registration scheme in partnership with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The exercise covers 250,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises across the country and allows eligible business owners to register their businesses without paying the usual CAC statutory fees.
The programme is being implemented under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is targeted at informal businesses that have not been registered due to cost, process complexity, or lack of access to registration centres.
How the Registration Process Is Being Handled
Under the arrangement, the Corporate Affairs Commission has removed all official charges attached to business name registration for businesses selected under the scheme.
SMEDAN is responsible for identifying and profiling eligible enterprises, after which their details are forwarded to the CAC for processing. Once approved, beneficiaries receive their business name certificates through the official CAC system.
Speaking on the development, CAC Registrar General Hussaini Ishaq Magaji SAN said the decision was taken to ease entry into the formal sector for small business operators who have been locked out due to financial constraints.
SMEDAN Director General Charles Odii also confirmed that businesses registered through the programme will be added to the agency’s MSME database, making them visible for future enterprise support programmes.
What Business Owners Stand to Gain
Many small businesses in Nigeria operate without registration because of the combined cost of official fees and informal charges from agents. For startups and micro enterprises, these costs often delay formalisation indefinitely.
With the removal of registration fees, businesses can obtain legal recognition without upfront expenses. Registered businesses are better positioned to open business bank accounts, apply for loans, access grants, and participate in government and private sector programmes.
Formal registration also improves record keeping and makes it easier for businesses to scale operations, enter partnerships, and explore regional or export markets.
Steps to Register Through SMEDAN
Interested business owners can begin by visiting SMEDAN’s official portal at portal.smedan.gov.ng and completing the required profiling process.
Enterprises already captured in SMEDAN’s database but not registered with the CAC will be contacted and guided through the remaining steps.
For applicants who may not be comfortable with online registration, SMEDAN has indicated that support will be provided through its state offices and business development centres.
Important Notice to Applicants
The free registration programme does not require payment at any stage. Business owners are advised to avoid individuals or websites requesting fees or claiming to fast track approval.
Only applications processed through SMEDAN and the CAC are recognised under the scheme.
Ngempower.com will continue to track official announcements and provide verified updates on government programmes affecting small businesses across Nigeria.
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