The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued a six-week deadline for all unregistered businesses in Nigeria to comply with statutory registration requirements or face prosecution and potential jail time.
This warning came through a public notice released on Tuesday, titled “Carrying on Business in Nigeria Under an Unregistered Name or Acronym.” The Commission made it clear that operating a business without proper registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 is a criminal offence.
According to the CAC, any individual or entity operating as a company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or under a business name that has not been registered with the Commission is in violation of Section 863 of the Act. It is also an offence to operate using a name or acronym different from the one officially registered.
The notice also emphasized the provisions of Section 729 of the Act, which require all registered businesses to display their registered name and registration number prominently at every business location. Additionally, this information must appear on all official company documents, including letterheads, signage, marketing materials, and advertisements.
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“In particular, the general public should note the provisions of Section 862(1) of the Act, which provides that any person who knowingly makes a false statement in any document required under the Act commits an offence,” the statement warned. Offenders risk a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and daily fines for each day the offence continues.
The CAC reiterated that this move is part of efforts to ensure regulatory compliance and transparency in the Nigerian business environment. It advised unregistered entities to visit its official website at [www.cac.gov.ng](http://www.cac.gov.ng) to begin or complete their registration process.
“All companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and business name proprietors are hereby required to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Act within six weeks from the date of this notice,” the Commission stated. “Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions, including prosecution.”
