The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have launched a nationwide initiative to provide free business registration for 250,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Announced on Friday, October 3, via the agencies’ official X accounts, the programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem by promoting formalisation and reducing barriers to business growth.
It aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda, which prioritises economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
High registration costs, bureaucracy, and lack of awareness have long kept millions of Nigerian businesses in the informal sector, limiting access to finance, markets, and government support.
The CAC–SMEDAN initiative addresses these challenges by covering the cost of registration and linking beneficiaries to SMEDAN’s MSME database.
Registered businesses will gain access to aftercare services, including grants, capacity-building programmes, technical support, and market linkages.
CAC Registrar-General Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, said the initiative is intended to break barriers that keep many businesses informal, giving entrepreneurs a pathway to growth.
SMEDAN Director-General Dr. Charles Odii added that formalisation is the gateway to continuous support, noting that registered businesses will benefit from training, grants, and market access.
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The agencies explained that CAC is forgoing approximately ₦3 billion in registration fees while SMEDAN provides the support system to ensure businesses not only register but also thrive.
The collaboration underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs.
How to Apply
Eligible MSMEs can register for free through the SMEDAN portal by following these steps:
1. Visit portal.smedan.gov.ng.
2. Sign up and complete your registration on the portal.
3. When asked if you have a CAC number, select “No.”
4. Submit your details to complete the process.
5. Once your registration is complete, you will be contacted with the next steps to finalise your CAC registration.
Note: MSMEs already on SMEDAN’s database without CAC registration automatically qualify for this drive.