CAC deregisters 400,000 companies in 2025 to clean up corporate register

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has deregistered more than 400,000 companies in 2025 over prolonged inactivity and failure to comply with statutory obligations, as part of a sweeping effort to sanitise Nigeria’s corporate registry and strengthen confidence in the country’s business environment.

The Registrar-General of the Commission, Hussaini Magaji, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during events marking the CAC’s 35th anniversary.

He said the mass deregistration was necessary to remove dormant and non-compliant entities from the national companies register and protect its integrity.

“In 2025 alone, the commission de-registered over 400,000 companies, in a bid to clean up its database from inactive and non-compliant entities,” Magaji said, noting that the move was aimed at promoting transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s corporate regulatory framework.

He explained that maintaining an accurate and up-to-date register was critical to improving investor confidence and ensuring that only legitimate and compliant businesses operate within the formal economy.

Magaji recalled that the commission had earlier announced plans to delist at least 100,000 companies that had remained inactive for extended periods or failed to meet requirements under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

According to a public notice issued at the time, the affected entities were those that had ceased operations, remained inactive for a minimum of 10 years, or failed to file annual returns and disclose Persons with Significant Control.

READ ALSO: CAC to delist 100,000 dormant companies over non-compliance with CAMA regulations

The commission granted such companies a 90-day window to regularise their status by submitting outstanding filings and, where applicable, sending activation emails to the CAC.

On support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Registrar-General said the commission facilitated free business registrations for 250,000 entrepreneurs in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

He described the initiative as a strategic intervention to reduce the cost of formalisation and encourage small businesses to operate within the regulated sector.

According to him, the programme is designed to lower entry barriers for entrepreneurs and expand participation in the formal economy.

Magaji also highlighted the commission’s progress on corporate transparency, disclosing that CAC has operationalised a Beneficial Ownership Register that allows the public to identify the ultimate owners of companies operating in Nigeria. He said the platform has gained global recognition as a reference point in the fight against financial crimes and opaque corporate structures.

Beyond regulatory reforms, the CAC boss said the commission has prioritised staff welfare by introducing housing and vehicle loan schemes and plans to establish a health facility to cater for serving and retired employees.

“The strength you see here today represents our workforce and their dedication to serving over 200 million Nigerians,” he said, adding that the anniversary celebration reflected the commission’s resilience, teamwork and commitment to service delivery.

In July 2025, the CAC unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered registration portal aimed at transforming the company registration process.

The platform speeds up approvals, enables instant name reservations and significantly reduces the time required to generate business certificates.

Under the new system, registration certificates can be issued in under 30 minutes once a user’s National Identification Number (NIN) is verified, marking a shift from traditional in-office procedures to fully remote, technology-driven services.

The commission has also upgraded and optimised its portal to improve user experience and simplify compliance, as part of a broader push to accelerate digital adoption across its platforms.

In addition, the CAC announced the removal of 247 companies from its database for operating with false Registered Certificate (RC) numbers, further underscoring its resolve to enforce compliance and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s corporate registry.