Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has rolled out stricter requirements for all online business name updates, mandating proprietors to provide personal data including date of birth, registered office email, personal email, phone number, and a valid means of identification.

Announced on Wednesday, the new rule applies immediately to any change request—whether address updates, ownership transfers, or other modifications—and is aimed at curbing fraud while strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s business registry. “These details will ensure that all business name records are accurate and verifiable,” the CAC stated, warning that incomplete submissions will be rejected or delayed.

The move is the latest in a series of CAC crackdowns. In April 2025, the commission issued a six-week ultimatum for unregistered businesses to regularise or face prosecution. By August, it exposed 247 companies using fake RC numbers, and it continues to delist dormant firms inactive for more than a decade.

CAC has also flagged 15 fake company names circulating in Nigeria, urging the public to verify registration status on its online portal before engaging in transactions.

Industry watchers say the measures will help reduce impersonation and forged documents but caution that they may slow legitimate updates, especially for small businesses unfamiliar with the online system.