The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has struck out more than 400,000 inactive companies from its corporate registry in 2025 as part of ongoing reforms targeted at improving transparency, safeguarding the economy and boosting investor confidence.
The Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Magaji, SAN, made this known on Saturday in Abuja during the commission’s monthly fitness walk, organised as part of activities to mark its 35th anniversary.
Magaji explained that most of the affected entities were companies that had not filed statutory annual returns for several years and were no longer in operation, noting that such firms posed risks to economic integrity.
He said, “In 2025 alone, we deregistered over 400,000 companies from our records. These were largely companies that had become inactive and failed to meet statutory obligations, including filing annual returns.
“Such entities pose threats to economic operations. Cleaning up the register was necessary to build confidence and ensure that Nigeria has a credible and reliable corporate registry.”
He stressed that maintaining a transparent and current register was vital for attracting both domestic and foreign investors, while also helping to curb the misuse of corporate structures for illegal activities.
The CAC boss described the anniversary fitness walk as symbolic, saying it demonstrated the commission’s endurance, unity and institutional growth since its creation in 1991.
The commission was set up under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 to replace the inefficient Company Registry. As an autonomous agency, it oversees the incorporation and regulation of companies, business names and incorporated trustees. It was later modernised by the CAMA 2020.
“CAC is 35 years old today. We are here with our staff to showcase our strength, our unity and our resilience. This gathering represents how far we have come as an institution,” Magaji said.
He recalled that the commission initially operated as a largely manual agency in a single office in Garki, Abuja, but has since transformed into a fully digital, end-to-end service provider with global reach.
“The CAC has come a long way, from manual operations in one location to a fully digital organisation. Today, our services are available anywhere, anytime, 24/7. We are the only government agency providing end-to-end digital services,” he stated.
According to him, the commission’s digital transformation has supported the Federal Government’s ease-of-doing-business reforms by removing the need for physical visits to CAC offices for company registration or management.
“You can register and manage your business from your room without stepping into any CAC office. That is what ease of doing business truly means,” he added.
As part of efforts to support small businesses, Magaji disclosed that the commission partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria to enable the free registration of 250,000 MSMEs in 2025.
He said the exercise was channelled through SMEDAN to ensure that beneficiaries also received training and capacity-building support.
Magaji added that improved staff welfare, prompt payment of entitlements and clear career progression had enhanced morale and service delivery.
The fitness walk, attended by members of management and staff, was part of a series of activities lined up to celebrate the Corporate Affairs Commission’s 35th anniversary.
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