The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced stricter requirements for all online business name update requests, mandating the inclusion of more detailed personal and contact information.
In a notice issued on Wednesday, the commission explained that the new measures are designed to strengthen verification, improve accuracy in its registry, and support its ongoing digital transformation.
What’s Changing?
Effective immediately, anyone updating a business name online must provide:
- Date of birth
- Registered office email
- Proprietor’s email
- Phone number (either for the registered address or proprietor)
- A valid means of identification
The CAC said these details are essential for ensuring that business records remain accurate, verifiable, and protected from fraudulent alterations.
Failure to provide the required information may lead to delays or outright rejection of update requests.
Why This Matters
The move is part of the CAC’s broader push for compliance under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020. In recent months, the commission has:
- Warned unregistered businesses to regularise their status or face prosecution
- Announced plans to delist dormant and non-compliant companies
- Issued alerts over fake company names and forged RC or BN numbers
- Exposed 247 companies operating with false RC numbers
- Launched an AI-powered registration portal to simplify and speed up company registration
The CAC has repeatedly urged Nigerians to verify company names and registration numbers via its official portal before entering into business transactions, especially high-value deals.
