In a decisive move to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s corporate registry, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has uncovered and expunged 247 companies found to be operating with fraudulent Registered Certificate (RC) numbers.
The Commission disclosed the development in a public notice released on Friday via its official X handle, warning that the affected firms were never legally incorporated as limited liability companies in Nigeria.
According to the CAC, the RC numbers linked to the companies had never been assigned to them or to any other registered entity, raising concerns over fraudulent activities. Consequently, both the names and RC numbers of the firms have been permanently erased from the national company database.
“The general public is hereby informed that the 247 companies listed below have not been duly registered as limited liability companies. The Registered Certificate (RC) numbers allegedly ascribed to them have not been assigned to them or to anyone. Consequently, the names and the RC numbers have been removed from the database,” the statement read.
The Commission cautioned Nigerians against engaging in transactions with unregistered or fraudulent businesses, stressing that such dealings would not be protected under the law, since the affected entities lack valid corporate status.
The crackdown is part of CAC’s wider regulatory reforms to sanitize Nigeria’s business environment, protect investors, and strengthen confidence in the country’s corporate governance framework.
Analysts say the action underscores CAC’s renewed focus on tackling identity fraud, shell companies, and business malpractice, which have long undermined transparency in the private sector.
With the delisting of the 247 companies, stakeholders believe the Commission is sending a strong signal that it will no longer tolerate fraudulent entities exploiting the system to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians and investors.
Would you like me to also add the possible implications for investors, SMEs, and Nigeria’s ease of doing business ranking to give the story a deeper, economic angle?
