The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria is set to introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent to address a backlog of 7,000 company registration applications. This move aims to ease service delays and improve the overall registration process. Registrar-General and CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, announced this development during a stakeholders’ forum in Kano.
The new AI-powered portal will overhaul the existing Company Registration Portal (CRP), enabling the AI agent to handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service functions with increased speed and accuracy. This is expected to tackle challenges that have slowed service delivery, including the existing backlog of applications.
One of the key features of the portal is the ability to provide instant name approvals. If a preferred name is unavailable, the system is designed to suggest alternative names. The name reservation process has been simplified, making it as straightforward as opening an email account. The use of AI enables seamless suggestions and approvals in real-time.
Although the transition to the AI-driven portal has experienced some challenges, with customers facing delays in approvals, the CAC is working to address these issues. The high volume of applications has contributed to the delays, particularly for services not covered in the initial phase of the deployment.
The CAC launched the AI-driven registration portal in June to transform Nigeria’s business environment by simplifying company registration processes and accelerating approvals. To further enhance efficiency, the Commission plans to utilize AI to manage the large volume of daily inquiries, which includes over 3,000 emails per day. The AI tool being developed can read and comprehend these emails within a minute, detect duplicate requests, and reroute messages to the appropriate departments for faster resolution.
The Registrar-General has reassured stakeholders that the Commission is actively working to stabilize the newly introduced AI portal and improve customer satisfaction. With problems identified and solutions in motion, the CAC is committed to enhancing its services and providing a more efficient experience for its customers. This development is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria’s business environment, making it easier for companies to register and operate in the country.
