One of CAC’s primary duties is to administer CAMA 2020, a source of company law in Nigeria. CAMA also allows CAC to establish and maintain a company registry across the 36 states in Nigeria. This article will unveil the list of registered companies in Nigeria with the CAC.
What is CAC and Why Company Registration Matters in Nigeria
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is a Federal Government Agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating the formation, operation, and certification of Businesses in Nigeria. This commission ensures that every business carrying out operations in Nigeria is duly registered and certified
Below is a key summary of services offered by CAC
Implementation of Companies & Allied Matters Act
- Regulation and Supervision
- Maintaining Records of company data
- Winding Up
- Investigation into companies charged with fraud
- Providing Ancillary Services
How to Check if a Company is Registered in Nigeria
If you wish to investigate a company and find out if they are duly registered and certified with CAC, there are 3 ways you can check if a company is registered
- CAC online search portal
- NG Check
- By visiting the CAC Physical office
Check If A Company Is Registered With CAC via the Online Search Portal
Below is a step-by-step guide to check if a company is registered with CAC
- Visit the pre.cac.gov.ng and click on Public Search
- Alternatively, click on this CAC search link to take you straight to the page
- Input the Business Name, Company or NGO details (e.g. Name or Registered Number)
- Click on search
- CAC will now display the company name with its RC number. The same will apply to Business Names and NGOs
- This Process will also show you the status of such a company; either ACTIVE or INACTIVE. Active status means the company has complied with the mandatory requirements of filing annual returns.
Inactive status, on the other hand, means the company has been defaulting on annual returns for several years.
Above is how you can verify a business name with CAC
Limitations of CAC Search Portal
While CAC public search provides information about companies, below are some challenges you may encounter
- The CAC search portal does not provide the address of the company
- Information about the share ownership structure, Directors and Shareholders behind the company will not be displayed
- Objectives of Memorandum (Activities carried out by the company) may also not be found through the search portal
- Companies may be displayed but INACTIVE. This will give such companies a bad image to the public
Check If A Company is Registered With CAC via the NG Check Portal
Another way you can check company registration in Nigeria is through the NG portal, a free Nigerian business directory.
- Visit Ngcheck
- Under the search bar, input the name of the Business, company or NGO you want to register
- Click on the search portal to look for the company
- Select the company from the list, and you are good to go.
Benefits of Using the NG Check Portal
With the NG check portal, you can see the address of the company, look out for the directors, shareholders and even the address of the company.
Limitations of Ng Check Portal
While the NG check portal provides more accurate and reliable information about a company, this website is not owned or managed by CAC.
Another limitation of the NG check is that new entities registered with the commission are not automatically updated in the register, unlike the search portal with CAC, which makes it happen instantly.
Check If A Company Is Registered By Visiting the CAC Office
Another way you can verify the legitimacy of a company is by visiting the nearest CAC office around you in the State where you reside.
The office will look up the company and provide you with the information you need. While the above processes are free, visiting the CAC office to verify a company registration will come at a cost
List of Registered Companies in Nigeria With CAC
In Nigeria, about 500 new entities are registered daily with the CAC. Due to the high influx of registrations, it will be very difficult to maintain a fixed list of registered companies in Nigeria with CAC in a file that can be downloaded and shared.
However, the commission does maintain a register of companies, business names, and NGOs as registrations are made daily.
The only way you can access this is by using the procedures we have stated above. E.g using the search portal and searching for the entity you wish to look up.
How Often is the CAC Database Updated?
The CAC online database is updated on a regular basis as registrations are being carried out. With this prompt update, it is possible to conduct a CAC business search on an entity that has just been registered to confirm the status of the registration.
Why You Should Always Verify Before Doing Business in Nigeria
Looking at the turn of events in Nigeria, before doing business with any company, it is important to verify the status of any company and its legality before proceeding with such a deal.
Below is why verification is essential
- To check and ensure that such a company is compliant with statutes
- It helps to understand the company’s tax information and compliance
- To ensure the company has acquired the necessary license to practise
- Risk avoidance
- Due Diligence
- Reputation
- Transparency
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are some FAQs you need to be aware of and possible solutions to them
Is there a full CAC list of registered companies I can download?
Unfortunately, the list of registered companies with CAC in Nigeria is not available in a downloadable file. However, you can always do RC number lookup via the search portal
Can I check a company’s RC number online?
You can conduct an RC number check via the public search or using the NG check website
What information can I find in a CAC public search?
Name of the company, RC or BN or IT Number, Date of Registration and annual returns Status (which can either be ACTIVE or INACTIVE)
Can I find all registered companies in Nigeria on the search portal?
Yes. All registered entities will show up in the CAC public search once you search for such an entity with its Name or registered number
What if a company is not listed?
If, after conducting a public search, you discover the company is not listed, this means it has not been registered with CAC yet.
A company is showing under registration. What does it mean?
This simply means such a company is under the process of registration, and if there are no queries, it will soon be approved and certified by CAC.
Why is my company listed but showing INACTIVE?
This simply means the company has not paid its yearly returns to CAC. You will need the services of an agent to help you pay and update your status. Send us a DM
Let’s file your annual returns and help your business stay compliant and ACTIVE with CAC.
Send us a DM today 08066108299
Conclusion:
In conclusion, if you are looking forward to having the list of registered companies in Nigeria with CAC, you can achieve this via the online search portal, Ng Check Site or by physically going to the CAC office.
