Innovative AI-driven platform for CAC sees high registration numbers, yet users face delayed processes
The Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP), an AI-driven platform for company registrations in Nigeria, has been met with technical glitches and user complaints since its launch in mid-2025.
Many users, including lawyers and business owners, have reported issues such as payment verification failures, system inaccessibility for weeks, inability to perform name searches, complete registrations, file post-incorporation documents, and submit annual returns.
Despite these complaints, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has defended the portal, highlighting its capacity to process over 11,000 company registrations daily and dramatically reduce name reservation processing time from two weeks to a single day. The commission attributes some of the challenges to new security features imposed by the Data Protection Act, 2023, such as One-Time Passcodes (OTP) sent to original account holders to prevent fraudulent activities. They also mention glitches linked to integration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal as a contributing factor to delays.
The CAC has described these difficulties as “teething problems”, not a reflection of poor service or a threat to Nigeria’s ease of doing business, and has called for patience from users as they work to resolve the issues. However, users and legal practitioners express frustration over the lack of transparency and unclear timelines for resolving these problems, fearing that continued disruptions could deter investment and worsen operational efficiency.
One Abuja-based legal practitioner, June Etim Idan, often waited until midnight to use the portal because it functioned more reliably at night.
In summary, while the iCRP portal represents a technological advancement for company registrations in Nigeria, it is currently marred by technical issues and user dissatisfaction amid the ongoing transition. The CAC is actively addressing these issues but has yet to provide a detailed resolution timeline.
Summary of Key Points
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Timeline | Launched in mid-2025; issues have persisted for weeks after launch | | User Complaints | Payment unverifiable, portal inaccessibility, delays in name search and registration | | CAC Claims | Over 11,000 daily registrations; significant reduction in processing times; security upgrades | | Technical Causes | Data Protection Act compliance (OTP), NIMC portal glitches | | Resolution Plans | Ongoing improvements; user patience requested; no clear timeline publicly disclosed | | Concerns | Frustration over transparency and communication; possible negative impact on ease of business |
The Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP), in its current state, combines the realm of finance (company registrations) with technology (AI-driven platform). Despite the potential benefits, users have encountered issues with finance-related processes, such as payment verification failures, due to technical glitches. As the Corporate Affairs Commission works to resolve these "teething problems," they've cited the integration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal and new security features mandated by the Data Protection Act, 2023, as contributing factors.
