The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) will now register 250,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria at no cost, following approval by President Bola Tinubu. Announced Saturday during the 8th National MSME Awards 2026 at the State House in Abuja, the move removes statutory registration fees so nano, micro and small businesses can formally enter Nigeria’s corporate and financial systems.
Implemented in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the CAC-led initiative covers business name registration fees paid by the Federal Government. Beyond the fee waiver, participating entrepreneurs will receive technical training and ongoing business support aimed at improving enterprise survival and long-term growth.
Interested business owners must apply on the official SMEDAN portal and submit required documentation to secure a spot. Officials say the CAC fee waiver is a significant financial relief intended to reduce business failures and encourage wider formalization, enabling more small businesses to access banking, regulatory protections and other opportunities in the formal economy.
