250,000 Nigerian Businesses Are Getting Registered for Free — Are You One of Them?
Every Nigerian entrepreneur knows the drill. You’ve got the hustle, the customers, the late nights — but that one trip to “register the business properly” keeps sliding to next month, because somehow there’s always something more urgent to spend on.
Good news: that excuse just expired.
If you’ve been running your business informally — from a bedroom, a market stall, or a laptop — this is your cue to finally make it official. Here’s everything you need to know before the slots run out.
Why Bother Registering At All?
A CAC certificate isn’t just paperwork to frame on the wall. It’s the key that unlocks almost everything else:
Who Qualifies?
This scheme is built for the businesses the formal economy usually overlooks: sole proprietors, artisans, online vendors, and small-scale operators across all 36 states and the FCT — roughly 1 to 50 employees, not yet registered with CAC.
⏳ important Only business names (sole proprietorships and partnerships) are covered — limited companies and NGOs sit outside this particular scheme.
If you’re already on SMEDAN’s database but never completed CAC registration, you may already qualify automatically.
Slots are first-come, first-served. Once 250,000 is hit, the free window shuts.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to register your business for free through the SMEDAN portal. We’ve included visual guides for each stage.
Signup / Login
Go to portal.smedan.gov.ng and create an account or log in if you already have one.
SMEDAN Signup
Complete Email & NIN Verification
Verify your email address and National Identification Number (NIN). This step confirms your identity.
NIN Verification
Click on CAC Registration
Select the CAC registration option, then enter your proposed business name and line of business.
CAC Reg
Enter Proprietor Details & NIN
Fill in the proprietor’s full name, contact details, and NIN. This links the business to its owner.
Proprietor
Sign & Submit
Review the declaration, sign electronically, and submit your application.
Pending Page
Review Your Information & Submit
Double-check all entered details. Once confirmed, submit your final application for processing.
Pending Page
Wait for Approval
Your application is now in the queue. SMEDAN and CAC will review it and reach out via your registered contact details.
Pending Page
The Bottom Line
This is one of the rare moments where bureaucracy is actually working for the small guy. A government that usually costs small businesses money is, for once, covering the bill instead. With slots allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, the smartest move you can make today is the one that takes ten minutes: get your profile into the SMEDAN database and put your business on the path to full legitimacy.
Federal Government · CAC · SMEDAN · Renewed Hope Agenda
Thank you for providing this platform for great impact and trust to our business,I will be please if my business name will be officially registered.
We do hope it gets approved too! Please follow us on all social media for future updates – linktr.ee/upadistudio
I’m a new business owner
Welcome to the club. At uPadi Studios, our goal is to provide end to end support to small businesses so if you get stuck at any point – business registration, branding, creating a website, tools to use. We are here to support you