FG Offers Free Business Registration For 250,000 SMEs

By OBIOMA TORI

THE Federal Government has launched a scheme to provide free business name registration for 250,000 micro and small enterprises nationwide.

The initiative, driven by a partnership between the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), aims to formalise businesses, expand access to finance, and create jobs.

SMEDAN will profile and mobilise eligible businesses through its online portal, while the CAC will process registrations and issue certificates at no cost.

Officials say the move will give entrepreneurs legal identities, open doors to funding, and reduce the risks of informality.