CAC’s Digital Leap Tripped On Its Own Code: Can It Regain Trust By September?

By: Success Dedevwo

The Dream: A Smarter Way to Register Business in Nigeria
When the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) unveiled its AI-powered registration portal on June 30, 2025, it came with bold promises: faster registrations, seamless filings, and minimal human interference. It was the kind of leap many hoped would cement Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business reputation.

But barely a month in, users: lawyers, entrepreneurs, and corporate agents alike, have faced a different reality: failed logins, disappearing documents, blocked payments, and mounting frustration.

Now, the Commission has hit pause. The much-feared implementation of new fees and penalties, originally slated for August 1, has been postponed to September 1, 2025.

Growing Pains of a Digital Shift
Despite high hopes, the Corporate Affairs Commission’s new AI-powered portal has encountered early-stage technical issues that have impacted users across sectors and has prompt a necessary pause.

From incomplete name searches to delayed filings, many stakeholders have faced difficulties navigating the new system — a situation that led to the postponement of additional fees and penalties.
Some of the frequently reported issues include:
• Business name searches failing to return results
• Inability to download registration documents
• Rejected or double-charged payments
• Delays in filing post-incorporation documents and annual returns

Legal and business professionals have expressed cautious optimism about the CAC’s responsiveness.
“The anxiety for the pending increase has reduced… They should try to work on the portal to make it seamless.”
— Yomi Ogunsanya, Legal Practitioner (Premium Times)
While these early hurdles are not uncommon in tech transitions of this scale, users are hopeful that upcoming improvements will bring the system in line with its original goal: faster, more efficient, and transparent service delivery.

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What the CAC Had Planned and Why It Sparked Panic
At the heart of the AI overhaul was a sweeping modernization agenda. New measures included:

• Charging extra for document downloads after 7 days
• Strict penalties for delayed filings or renewals
• Dynamic pricing for select services

Built on digital automation and artificial intelligence, the CAC portal was designed to:
Auto-suggest business names using predictive models
Cross-check user identities with NIN data
Detect suspicious behavior and flag fraudulent applications
But with bugs left untested and integration gaps still gaping, the platform became a maze of errors. Some users spent hours, even days trying to complete simple tasks.

In response, the CAC issued a statement to The Guardian Nigeria:
“We are aware of the ongoing transitional challenges and are working with our technical partners to address them.”

What’s Next: A Race to Fix What’s Broken
For now, the CAC has reassured users that:
• New fees and penalties are on hold until September 1, 2025
• The portal will remain active (no shutdowns during maintenance)
• Efforts are underway to stabilize payments and NIMC integration
• Users are encouraged to keep filing and report errors via the Commission’s helpdesk and support teams.

The Response: Hope, But With Reservations
Many businesses and professionals welcomed the postponement but not without skepticism.
“Businesses need certainty, and CAC’s willingness to listen shows progress. But the portal must deliver on its promise,”
— Chinedu Ajayi, Business Analyst

Road To Benchmarks & Viability

The CAC’s AI-powered ambitions were never the problem. But the glitch may have dented its credibility. For digital transformation to work, it needs:
• Real user testing
• Functional infrastructure
• Fast and effective support
The grace period till September 1 is not just time to fix a website, it’s a second chance to win back trust.
With the clock ticking, the CAC must act fast to prove that its digital pivot wasn’t just hype. Whether businesses will re-engage or recoil may depend on what the next six weeks bring.
For now, users wait, refresh buttons at the ready.

Cited Sources
Premium Times Nigeria (July 21, 2025). “After Premium Times report, CAC postpones implementation of new fees, penalties.” LINK
The Guardian Nigeria (July 21, 2025). “CAC postpones new fees, penalties to September.” LINK
Premium Times Nigeria (July 20, 2025). “CAC reacts to lamentations over ineffective portal.” LINK