The Corporate Affairs Commission has stated that all online requests to update business names must now provide additional personal and contact details.

In a public notice issued Wednesday, the commission said the requirement aims to enhance verification and maintain the accuracy of registered business information.

This measure is part of the CAC’s ongoing efforts to digitize its processes and enhance compliance.

The CAC stated that, effective immediately, business owners updating their information online must provide their date of birth, registered office email, proprietor’s email, a phone number linked to either the registered address or the proprietor (if different), and a valid form of identification.

The commission stressed that these measures are designed to strengthen the integrity of the business registry and minimize errors or fraudulent submissions.

“The inclusion of these details will ensure that all business name records are accurate and verifiable, improving our capacity to serve businesses efficiently,” the notice stated.

The CAC warned that failure to submit the required information could lead to delays or outright rejection of update requests.

In recent months, the commission has stepped up enforcement of registration requirements under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA).

In April, it issued a public notice giving unregistered businesses a six‑week deadline to regularize their status, warning that noncompliance could result in prosecution.

The CAC also announced plans to delist dormant or non‑compliant companies—those that have failed to file returns or update records for over ten years—to clean up its registry and safeguard the integrity of registered business names.

The commission issued a public warning after uncovering 15 company names and registration numbers circulating in Nigeria that were not found in its official database, indicating they are fake or forged.

The Commission stated that the alert was prompted by complaints regarding suspicious business activities linked to these entities. It urged Nigerian investors, businesses, and the public to always verify company names and RC or BN numbers through the CAC online portal before entering into any transactions, particularly high-value deals.

In August, the CAC also uncovered 247 companies using false RC numbers. These entities were never legally registered, and their RC numbers have since been removed from the official database.