AI-powered portal sees high registration numbers according to CAC, but users allegedly experience slowdowns
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria has transitioned from its legacy Company Registration Portal (CRP) to an Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP), powered by artificial intelligence. The new portal was launched to expedite company registration, promising near-instant name reservations and registrations within an hour, automating processes such as tax identification number generation and streamlining filings.
Timeline & Background
By July 16, 2025, the iCRP reportedly processed 8,000 name reservations in one day and over 11,000 company registration cases daily, a marked improvement from the previous system that took weeks for similar volumes. This AI-driven upgrade is part of CAC’s broader reform agenda to improve Nigeria’s corporate service delivery and ease of doing business rankings.
Issues and Errors Reported
Despite the official claims of efficiency, numerous users have reported delays and payment verification failures. For example, users like Olamide Egbetola have noted payments being deducted but the portal failing to confirm receipt, preventing them from completing registrations. Complaints also centre on technical glitches linked to the integration with payment gateways, such as Remita, affecting real-time payments. The mandatory use of One-Time Passcodes (OTP) per transaction as a security feature, designed to comply with the Data Protection Act 2023, has created additional hurdles for users, especially those unfamiliar with the process or without reliable phone/email access.
CAC’s Response and User Feedback
The CAC acknowledges that the transition to iCRP presents “teething problems” but defends the system as a key innovation for long-term service quality enhancement. The commission emphasises that the iCRP is cost-effective since users only pay after securing company names, avoiding lost funds from name searches. CAC also stated it is working on adding more payment gateways to reduce failures and improve payment verification speed.
The portal’s integration with NIMC and other agencies has caused verification-related delays, which the CAC attributes to the complexity of data validation in the new system. CAC expressed commitment to resolving glitches based on stakeholder feedback to ensure improved user experience soon.
Summary Table: CAC iCRP Transition Issues vs. CAC Claims
| Aspect | CAC Claims | User/Media Reports | CAC Response | |-------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Registration volume | Over 11,000 cases daily | Delays and verification issues | Acknowledges glitches but cites volume improvements | | Payment processing | Integration with Remita/stamped duties gateways, secure payments | Payment deduction without verification | Request for additional gateways ongoing | | Security | OTP per transaction for data protection | OTP requirement causes delays/inconveniences | Part of compliance with Data Protection Act 2023 | | User experience | Near-instant registration, seamless | Frustrations, pauses in processes | Working on optimizations based on feedback | | Cost efficiency | Users pay only after name reservation | No reported issues on cost | Portal prevents lost funds on failed name reservations |
The overall transition to the iCRP represents a significant technological upgrade for Nigeria’s corporate registration system, but it has been met with mixed user feedback due to technical issues, payment verification delays, and new security protocols. The CAC maintains that these are temporary challenges and continues efforts to optimise the portal for a smoother customer experience.
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has addressed concerns about the Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP), acknowledging that while it is a key innovation for future service quality enhancement, teething problems such as delays and payment verification failures have been reported.
These issues have centered on technical glitches with payment gateways, deductions without verification, and the integration of One-Time Passcodes (OTP) as a security measure that may cause delays for users. However, the CAC maintains that these issues are temporary and is working on adding more payment gateways and optimizing the portal based on feedback to ensure improved user experience.
