The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has deregistered more than 400,000 inactive companies from Nigeria’s corporate registry in 2025 as part of sweeping reforms aimed at improving transparency, safeguarding the economy and restoring investor confidence.
The Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Magaji, SAN, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during the commission’s monthly fitness walk, organised to mark its 35th anniversary.
Magaji explained that the deregistered entities were mostly companies that had failed to file statutory annual returns for several years and were no longer operational, warning that such firms posed significant risks to economic integrity.
“In 2025 alone, we deregistered over 400,000 companies from our records. These were largely inactive companies that failed to meet statutory obligations, including the filing of annual returns,” he said.
According to him, maintaining a credible and up-to-date corporate register is essential for attracting both local and foreign investors and for preventing the misuse of corporate structures for illegal activities.
“Such entities pose threats to economic operations. Cleaning up the register was necessary to build confidence and ensure Nigeria has a reliable and transparent corporate registry,” Magaji added.
The CAC boss noted that the anniversary fitness walk symbolised the commission’s resilience, unity and institutional growth since its establishment.
The commission was created under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) of 1990 to replace the former Company Registry and was further strengthened by the CAMA 2020 reforms. As an autonomous agency, the CAC oversees the incorporation and regulation of companies, business names and incorporated trustees.
“CAC is 35 years old today. We are here to showcase our strength, unity and resilience as an institution,” Magaji said.
He recalled that the commission started as a largely manual agency operating from a single office in Garki, Abuja, but has since transformed into a fully digital, end-to-end service provider with global reach.
“Today, our services are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world. The CAC is the only government agency providing complete end-to-end digital services,” he stated.
Magaji said the commission’s digital transformation has significantly advanced the Federal Government’s ease-of-doing-business reforms, allowing entrepreneurs to register and manage businesses remotely without visiting CAC offices.
“You can register and manage your business from your room without stepping into any CAC office. That is true ease of doing business,” he said.
In support of small businesses, the Registrar-General revealed that the CAC partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to facilitate the free registration of 250,000 MSMEs in 2025.
He explained that routing the registrations through SMEDAN ensured beneficiaries also received training and capacity-building support.
Magaji also noted that improved staff welfare, prompt payment of entitlements and clear career progression structures had boosted morale and enhanced service delivery at the commission.
The fitness walk was attended by CAC management and staff and formed part of activities marking 35 years of the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria.
