The Corporate Affairs Commission has reminded Nigerian entrepreneurs and operators of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises that they can access the Federal Government’s 250,000 free Business Name registration slots exclusively through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria portal.
The Commission, in a public notice issued on Saturday, August 15, 2026, said the initiative was approved by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support and stimulate the growth and development of MSMEs across the country.
According to the CAC, eligible and interested entrepreneurs are required to register through the official SMEDAN portal at portal.smedan.gov.ng to be considered among beneficiaries of the programme.
“Further to the approval, interested and eligible entrepreneurs are advised to only visit: portal.smedan.gov.ng to register and be part of the beneficiaries of this complete support package for small businesses,” the Commission stated.
The initiative provides for the free registration of 250,000 Business Names, removing the registration cost for qualifying entrepreneurs seeking to formalise their businesses.
The CAC stressed that beneficiaries are not required to make any payment to the Commission for registration under the scheme.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission will NOT request payment for this registration,” it said.
The Commission also warned prospective beneficiaries against fraudsters who might attempt to exploit the programme by demanding money or claiming they could expedite the registration process.
“Beware of fraudsters! Do not pay anyone claiming to fast-track your registration,” the CAC warned.
The Commission therefore advised entrepreneurs interested in benefiting from the programme to deal only through the designated SMEDAN portal and avoid individuals or unofficial channels requesting payment in connection with the free registration exercise.
The notice, dated August 15, 2026, was signed by the management of the Corporate Affairs Commission.
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