The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has opened a new service office at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, as part of efforts to improve access to business registration and compliance services for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthen Nigeria’s ease of doing business.
The new office, commissioned on Monday by the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), is expected to bring corporate services closer to entrepreneurs while supporting the Federal Government’s drive to formalise more businesses and expand economic inclusion.
The development is part of ongoing reforms aimed at making it easier for Nigerians to register and operate businesses legally, reducing bureaucratic delays and encouraging more enterprises to join the formal economy.
In a statement posted on its verified X account on Monday, the commission said the new office was strategically located to serve the growing business community in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, and to improve access to its services.
According to the statement, the initiative aligns with the economic reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which seeks to create a more business-friendly environment, increase regulatory compliance and expand opportunities for small businesses.
The commission said the new office would make it easier for entrepreneurs to register companies, file annual returns and carry out other statutory transactions without unnecessary delays.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has commissioned an additional service office at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, to bring registration and compliance services closer to small business owners and further improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria,” the statement said.
It added that the office was commissioned by the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), and was established to support the Federal Government’s efforts to deepen the formalisation of businesses across the country.
“Commissioned today by the Registrar-General/CEO, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, the new office is strategically established to support the Federal Government’s drive, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to formalise small businesses and deepen economic inclusion,” the statement added.
The CAC explained that the facility had been fully equipped with the resources needed to provide efficient corporate services to business owners.
According to the commission, entrepreneurs will be able to carry out business registration, file annual returns and complete other regulatory obligations more quickly and conveniently.
“The TBS office is fully equipped to provide seamless business registration, annual returns filing, and other compliance services, enabling SMEs to transact directly with the Commission in a faster, more convenient, and efficient manner,” the commission stated.
The agency noted that the expansion reflects its commitment to supporting MSMEs, improving compliance with corporate regulations and ensuring that entrepreneurs enjoy easier access to government services.
It stressed that small businesses remain a critical part of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation and economic growth.
By bringing its services closer to entrepreneurs, the commission believes more business owners will be encouraged to register their enterprises and operate within the formal sector.
Formal registration allows businesses to enjoy legal recognition, access financial services, bid for government contracts and benefit from various government intervention programmes designed to support enterprise development.
The Federal Government has in recent years introduced several reforms aimed at addressing these challenges by simplifying registration processes and expanding access to digital and physical service centres.
The CAC has been at the centre of those reforms, introducing online registration platforms, electronic filing systems and other digital innovations to reduce paperwork and shorten processing times.
The opening of the Lagos office is expected to complement these digital services by providing physical support for entrepreneurs who require face-to-face assistance with registration and compliance matters.
Lagos remains Nigeria’s largest commercial hub and hosts millions of registered and unregistered businesses operating across various sectors of the economy.
Because of the concentration of commercial activities in the state, demand for CAC services has continued to increase, making the establishment of additional service centres necessary.
Business associations have repeatedly called for greater decentralisation of government services to reduce congestion at existing offices and improve service delivery.
The new office at Tafawa Balewa Square is expected to ease pressure on other CAC offices in Lagos while providing quicker access for business owners within the central business district and surrounding areas.
The Federal Government has identified the formalisation of MSMEs as a major strategy for expanding the nation’s tax base, improving access to finance and generating more reliable economic data for planning and policy formulation.
According to government officials, bringing more businesses into the formal economy will also enhance transparency, improve investor confidence and create a more predictable business environment.
The commission said its latest expansion demonstrates its determination to support entrepreneurs by making corporate services more accessible and efficient.
It added that improving service delivery remains one of its key priorities as it continues implementing reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.
The opening of the new office also comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve Nigeria’s ranking in global ease of doing business indicators through regulatory reforms, digital transformation and improved access to government services.