The Federal Government has commenced applications for the free registration of 250,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)-Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) formalisation programme.
The initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu, is aimed at removing the cost of business registration for eligible nano, micro and small businesses to encourage their participation in Nigeria’s formal economy.
Under the programme, successful applicants will receive free Business Name registration through the Corporate Affairs Commission, with the Federal Government paying the statutory registration fees.
The Presidency announced the initiative during the 8th National MSME Awards held at the State House, Abuja, on June 27, 2026.
In addition to the free CAC registration, beneficiaries will receive technical training, business development support and access to opportunities designed to improve business sustainability and growth.
How to apply
Interested business owners are required to:
i – Visit the official SMEDAN portal at portal.smedan.gov.ng.
ii – Create an account using their name, email address, phone number and password.
iii – Complete the MSME registration form with accurate business information.
iv – Select “No” when asked whether the business already has a CAC registration number.
v – Review the information provided and submit the application.
vi – Await confirmation from SMEDAN if the application is successful.
The government noted that businesses already registered on the SMEDAN database but without CAC registration may automatically qualify for the programme.
Successful applicants will subsequently be contacted with the next steps for their free CAC Business Name registration.
The initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Corporate Affairs Commission and SMEDAN to facilitate the formalisation of 250,000 nano, micro and small enterprises nationwide.
According to the Presidency, the programme is intended to eliminate the financial burden associated with business registration while integrating small businesses into Nigeria’s formal banking and regulatory system.
