When the doors of the digital registry swing open this week, every Nigerian business owner intending to update a registered business name online will have to show more than just a form and a fee.
They will now need to prove their identity.
In a fresh directive posted on its official X account Wednesday, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) announced sweeping changes to its business-name update process, effective immediately.
From now on, any “Business Name Online Update” must be accompanied by a full set of personal and contact details before the application will be processed.
What’s New: Info You Must Submit
Under the updated rules, every online submission must include:
- Date of birth of the proprietor
- Email address of the registered office
- Proprietor’s email address
- Phone number (for either the registered office or proprietor, where applicable)
- A valid means of identification (government-issued ID)
Also mandatory: a working and traceable phone or contact address. The move reflects a broader push for stronger verification and cleaner business-registry records.
Why the Change and Why it Matters
According to CAC, the stricter submission requirements are intended to strengthen verification processes and enhance the accuracy of business records, a move aimed at curbing fraud, ensuring legitimacy, and improving overall regulatory compliance for businesses operating under registered names.
For business owners, the new guidelines mean more paperwork, but also greater assurance that only legitimate, verifiable entities can change business names.
It closes a loophole that may have allowed fake or untraceable entities to slip through in the past.
What Entrepreneurs and SMEs Should Do Now
For small business owners, startups, or long-standing enterprises seeking to update their registered names, the new requirements effectively raise the bar for compliance. Experts suggest the following steps:
- Ensure you have a valid government-issued ID ready before starting the online process.
- Use traceable contact details, a working, accessible email and phone number tied to the proprietor or business office.
- Confirm that the registered office email is functional, as future official communications will be directed there.
- If you lack any of the required information, update your records before submitting a name-change request, or risk rejection.
Bigger Picture: Strengthening Nigeria’s Business Registry
The CAC’s move is part of a broader reform trajectory. In recent months, the Commission has pushed digital transformation, launching AI-powered registration portals, accelerating name approvals and company registrations, and making compliance easier for legitimate businesses.
By enforcing stricter verification and mandatory identity data for updates, CAC is signalling a shift toward transparency, traceability, and accountability in Nigeria’s business registration ecosystem.
For many business owners, this may mean a few extra clicks, but for Nigeria’s economy, it could be a step toward cleaner records, safer transactions, and a more trustworthy business environment.
