CAC Moves to Drop 100,000 Dormant Firms

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a major regulatory shakeup with the planned removal of nearly 100,000 dormant companies from its official register, citing prolonged non-compliance with statutory filing obligations.

In a public notice released via its official Instagram page on Tuesday, July 30, 2025, the Commission revealed that the affected firms had failed to file their annual returns for a decade, in violation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

“The general public is hereby informed that the Corporate Affairs Commission has commenced another round of striking off companies that have not complied with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 from the Register,” the notice stated.

According to an Excel document published on the Commission’s website, the targeted companies were incorporated between 2002 and 2006 and have remained inactive for approximately 10 years. This represents the fifth batch in CAC’s ongoing compliance enforcement drive.

The Commission stressed that the affected businesses must file up-to-date annual returns, including disclosures on Persons with Significant Control (PSC) or Beneficial Ownership, within 90 days of the notice. Failure to comply within the stipulated period will result in permanent removal from the CAC register.

“Companies and the general public are advised to check the website for the list of the affected companies. Any company that fails to comply… shall be struck off the Register,” the statement warned.


CAC further emphasized the legal consequences for companies delisted from the register. “It is unlawful for any company struck off the Register to carry on business, as such entities lose all legal recognition,” the notice read.

The measure is in line with CAC’s ongoing reforms to sanitize the Nigerian business environment, promote transparency, and ensure the integrity of company data available to investors, regulators, and the general public.


In a move aimed at improving compliance rates, the CAC recently unveiled its new Intelligent Company Registration Portal (ICRP)—an AI-powered platform designed to streamline company registration and compliance monitoring.

The system automates the identification of non-compliant entities and simplifies filing procedures, allowing business owners and corporate administrators to update records in real time.

This digital reform aligns with Nigeria’s broader push to enhance ease of doing business and align regulatory practices with global standards.


In late 2024, the Commission initiated a similar purge, targeting companies that had failed to meet their reporting obligations for a decade. This fresh batch of 100,000 entities further underscores CAC’s commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance and decluttering the national register.


Legal analysts and compliance experts have lauded the move as a necessary cleanup exercise. “Maintaining an accurate corporate register is crucial for investor confidence and anti-money laundering frameworks,” said Olumide Alade, a corporate lawyer based in Lagos.

However, stakeholders also caution that small businesses and startups may need more awareness and support to avoid unintentional default. CAC has urged business owners to proactively check their compliance status and use the new AI-powered portal to regularize their records before the deadline.