The Federal Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu, has launched a major initiative offering free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) business name registration to 250,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
This program, implemented through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with the CAC, takes away a key barrier for entrepreneurs by covering all statutory registration fees.
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Why CAC Registration Matters
CAC registration is a formal registration that boosts credibility, enables growth and supports small businesses in economic participation.
To get loans, grants, government contracts, banking services, and investment opportunities, being registered with the CAC is a necessity. However, many small businesses cannot access all these due to registration costs.
Registration of a business name with the CAC will normally cost not less than 20,000 naira via the agents, but with this initiative, entrepreneurs can register and get CAC certificates at no cost.
This initiative also builds on the “Renewed Hope” agenda and a Memorandum of Understanding between SMEDAN and CAC. It was highlighted during the 8th National MSME Awards in June 2026.
Who Can Apply for the Free CAC Registration?
- Nano, micro, and small businesses (primarily sole proprietorships/business names) not yet registered with CAC.
- Existing SMEDAN-registered businesses without a CAC certificate may qualify automatically.
- Businesses in sectors such as retail, agriculture, manufacturing, tech, creative industries, and more.
How to Apply for Free CAC Registration
1. Visit the official SMEDAN registration portal: portal.smedan.gov.ng
2. Create an account with your full name, email, phone number, and password.
3. You will get a link in the email you provided redirecting you to continue your registration.
4. There are three parts to the registration on SMEDAN’s portal. The first is “Business Registration.” Here you’d be asked about existing CAC registration, select “No”. Then input your business name.
5. The next part, “Business Description,” comes up automatically. Fill in the information required carefully. Then, the final part, “Business Owner Info” comes up. Fill in the required information carefully as well.
6. Await notification from SMEDAN.
The SMEDAN registration might take about 10 minutes including retries if you pop notifications like, “Business check failed. Please try again.” Be patient enough to keep trying.
Selected applicants will be notified by SMEDAN and will receive instructions to complete the free Business Name registration on the CAC portal (iCRP) and receive their certificate at no cost.
The process is designed to be straightforward and paperless, however you need to have your NIN and business details ready. Remember to use only official government sites like portal.smedan.gov.ng or smedanregister.ng.
Free or subsidized CAC registration for MSMEs is not entirely new. The government has tried variations for years to boost formalisation, but according to CAC, the current large-scale program (launched in September 2025 for 250,000 MSMES) appears to be one of the most ambitious and actively implemented versions to date.
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