Tinubu Approves Free CAC Registration for 250,000 MSMEs Nationwide

President Bola Tinubu has officially approved a program that will provide free formalization and corporate registration for 250,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria.

The announcement was made on Saturday at the State House in Abuja during the 8th National MSME Awards 2026.

According to the presidency, the initiative is intended to eliminate financial barriers for nano, micro, and small‑scale entrepreneurs, thereby integrating them into Nigeria’s formal banking and regulatory framework.

The presidency added that beneficiaries will receive complete business name registrations without paying the standard statutory fees to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

It further revealed that, in addition to the registration fee waiver, the federal intervention package includes “moral support for business owners” and specialized “technical training for beneficiaries” to promote long‑term corporate sustainability.

The presidency disclosed that small business owners who wish to participate must log onto the official SMEDAN portal using the designation (#SMEDANGov) to complete their documentation and secure their onboarding slots.

“The implementation of this policy is driven through a strategic partnership involving the CAC and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN,” the presidency said.

“Top officials within the regulatory agencies noted that the waiver represents a significant financial concession aimed entirely at reducing the high mortality rate of small businesses nationwide,” the presidency added.