Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has removed more than 400,000 companies from its official register in 2025, a major cleanup aimed at enhancing the integrity of the national business database.
Registrar-General Hussaini Magaji confirmed the mass deregistration, stating the action targeted firms that were inactive or non-compliant with statutory filing and payment obligations. He explained the exercise was essential to maintain accurate, reliable corporate records and uphold the credibility of Nigeria’s official companies register. This initiative follows a earlier phase in August 2025, where over 247 companies were similarly removed.
The purge is a core component of the CAC’s ongoing reform agenda, which centres on a complete digital transformation of its services. Magaji, speaking in Abuja, highlighted the shift from a manual, location-based system to a fully online platform. “CAC now offers services anywhere and at any time, 24 hours a day. You can register your business from your room without visiting our offices,” he said, underscoring the commission’s new role as a digital service provider for both domestic and diaspora entrepreneurs.
This extensive database sanitisation supports the broader digital overhaul by eliminating defunct and defaulting entities that clutter the registry. A clean, verified register is foundational to the CAC’s mission of providing efficient, transparent corporate services and fostering a trustworthy business environment.
The move is significant for Nigeria’s economic landscape. A reliable and current companies register reduces opportunities for fraudulent activities, improves data for policymakers and investors, and aligns with global best practices for corporate transparency. By coupling rigorous compliance enforcement with accessible digital services, the CAC aims to strengthen Nigeria’s business climate and support formal economic growth. The commission indicates that such periodic cleanups will continue as part of its sustained digital and regulatory reforms.
