Free CAC Registration for 250,000 Small Businesses – SMEDAN

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have unveiled a joint initiative to provide free business name registration for 250,000 nano, micro, and small enterprises nationwide.

The programme was launched on Friday in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CAC Registrar-General Hussaini Magaji, SAN, and SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii.

According to a joint statement, the initiative—part of reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration—aims to remove cost and bureaucratic hurdles that keep many entrepreneurs in the informal sector, thereby denying them access to finance, markets, and government support.

Magaji said the Commission was forgoing about N3bn in registration fees to make the scheme possible.

“By removing the cost of business name registration for 250,000 businesses, we are helping more entrepreneurs take the first step towards growth, legitimacy, and access to bigger opportunities,” he said.

SMEDAN DG Charles Odii noted that the programme would reduce illegal businesses and lower the collapse rate of SMEs.

“Formalisation is the gateway to support. Once onboarded into our database, businesses will access grants, training, technical support, and market linkages. Entrepreneurs can begin by registering at portal.smedan.gov.ng or through our state offices,” he explained.

He further clarified that the upcoming CAC fee review would not affect the 250,000 free slots.

Both agencies commended President Tinubu for prioritising small business growth, stressing that the drive aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem.

How to Apply

• Visit portal.smedan.gov.ng and complete the registration form.
• MSMEs already in SMEDAN’s database without CAC registration automatically qualify.
• Once registered, beneficiaries will be contacted with the next steps for CAC certification.