In a bid to alleviate mounting frustrations from business owners, lawyers, and entrepreneurs, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced the immediate opening of a dedicated manual complaints resolution office in Zone 5, Abuja. The move comes as the agency’s AI-powered Intelligent Company Registration Portal (ICRP), launched in July 2025, continues to grapple with persistent technical glitches that have stalled company registrations and other services for months.
The public notice, signed by CAC Management and dated today, emphasizes the agency’s “commitment to uninterrupted service delivery.” It states that the Registrar-General has approved the deployment of representatives from key operational departments, including Registry, Incorporated Trustees, Consent Unit, ICT, and Compliance, to handle complaints on-site and provide “on-the-spot resolutions.” Officers are empowered to resolve issues instantly, barring cases needing further procedural steps, with the measure serving as a “stopgap” until the ICRP is fully stabilized.
“Esteemed customers should please note that all other established channels for complaints, i.e., email and the call center, remain fully functional,” the notice adds. Arrangements are also underway to replicate the initiative in zonal offices nationwide.
The ICRP, touted as a revolutionary AI-driven platform to streamline business incorporations and enhance fraud detection, was rolled out on June 30, 2025. CAC initially celebrated it with claims of record-breaking registrations, including 11,000 companies in a single day shortly after launch. However, users quickly reported widespread issues, from login failures and payment processing errors to delays in certificate issuance, hampering Nigeria’s ease of doing business rankings.
By early July, CAC issued an advisory acknowledging navigation challenges and promising swift fixes. In September, the agency reiterated commitments to resolve malfunctions by mid-month, but reports indicate these deadlines were missed, leaving glitches unresolved into October. As of late August, frustrations had escalated, with business registrations stalled for over six weeks, prompting outcry from legal practitioners and SMEs.
“This is a welcome step, but it’s long overdue,” said a Lagos-based corporate lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity, echoing sentiments from online forums where users have vented about “loopholes” and inefficiencies since the portal’s debut. The new manual office aims to bridge this gap, but critics argue it underscores deeper systemic flaws in the digital transition.
CAC’s efforts align with broader government pushes for digital economy reforms, yet the portal’s teething problems have drawn scrutiny from stakeholders like the Nigerian Bar Association, which highlighted embedded AI benefits but warned of operational hurdles. As Nigeria aims to attract foreign investment, such disruptions risk undermining investor confidence.
The Commission, headquartered in Abuja, oversees over 4 million registered entities and plays a pivotal role in economic formalization. Management concluded the notice with a reaffirmation: “Committed to Prompt and Efficient Service.”
Businesses affected are urged to visit the Zone 5 office for immediate assistance, while CAC works toward ICRP stabilization. Further updates on zonal expansions are expected soon.
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