By Abdullahi Inuwa
The Corporate Affairs Commission CAC has issued a stern warning to all unregistered business operators across Nigeria, giving them a six-week deadline to formalize their operations—or risk prosecution and possible jail time.
In a nationwide announcement on Monday, the CAC emphasized that the grace period is part of efforts to sanitize Nigeria’s business environment and bring informal enterprises into the legal fold.
The Commission warned that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will attract strict penalties, including imprisonment under existing company laws.
Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), stressed the urgency, saying, “This is the final call. We are giving unregistered businesses six weeks. After that, we will begin enforcement, and ignorance will not be an excuse.”
The directive targets small enterprises, street vendors, online vendors, and other informal sector operators who have yet to register their business names or corporate structures. The CAC also stated that registration can now be completed online within 48 hours to ease the process.
The move is part of the government’s broader economic reforms aimed at boosting tax collection, consumer protection, and access to credit for small businesses.As the countdown begins, business owners are urged to visit the CAC portal or nearest office to beat the deadline and avoid the legal consequences of operating unlawfully.
Sahara Reporters
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