The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria has announced a major milestone in digital transformation, revealing that its newly launched Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered business registration portal now processes over 11,000 transactions daily. Since its debut on June 30, the portal has significantly accelerated business name approvals and certificate issuance, but not without facing notable technical setbacks.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the CAC lauded the operational strides achieved through its automated AI platform, particularly its ability to issue business registration certificates within 30 minutes once a director’s National Identification Number (NIN) is verified.
“You can’t compare AI with humans for service delivery. We now handle over 11,000 cases daily,” the Commission stated. “Last Friday alone, we received 8,000 name reservation requests, all processed the same day. That would have taken two weeks manually. Automation through intelligence is necessary. It’s a change we must accept.”
One standout feature of the new portal is its flexibility,users can test multiple business name options without any upfront payment, reducing financial barriers and improving access for aspiring entrepreneurs across the country.
Persistent Challenges with External Systems
While the AI platform marks a significant leap forward in automation and ease of doing business, the CAC admits the rollout has not been entirely smooth. The Commission says the portal’s performance is still hindered by downtime from third-party platforms essential to its operation.
These issues include:
NIN verification delays due to prolonged outages on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal.
Payment disruptions caused by intermittent failures of the REMITA payment gateway.
Stamp duty remittance challenges whenever the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s ProTax platform experiences downtime.
To address the payment-related interruptions, CAC says it has requested approval from the Treasury to integrate an alternative payment channel, ensuring that users can complete transactions seamlessly, even when REMITA is unavailable.
To enhance security, the CAC has now implemented One-Time Passwords (OTPs) for all transactions, aiming to prevent unauthorized access and safeguard user data.
The Commission also highlighted its responsive support infrastructure, noting that a newly introduced help desk now processes up to 3,000 customer complaint emails daily. This has enabled real-time identification and resolution of platform bugs, while ongoing software patches are gradually restoring full functionality to affected features.
In its commitment to long-term system sustainability, the CAC confirmed that the fee adjustments announced in June will take effect on August 1, a move aimed at funding continuous platform improvements.
For micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in Nigeria, the AI-driven portal represents a significant stride toward reducing bureaucratic red tape and easing the business registration process. Entrepreneurs can now reserve names and obtain certificates in record time, improving the ease of starting and scaling businesses.
While current challenges highlight the need for stronger digital infrastructure integration, the CAC’s automation initiative signals a broader shift in how African governments can leverage AI to promote entrepreneurship and formalize the informal economy.
As CAC continues refining the platform, MSMEs are encouraged to stay updated on changes, use official support channels, and prepare for the upcoming fee adjustments.
