CAC to Delist 100,000 Dormant Companies in Nigeria: 90‑Day Grace Window for Compliance

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) plans to delist 100,000 dormant companies in Nigeria due to prolonged inactivity and non-compliance with regulations under CAMA 2020.

This was disclosed in a public notice issued by the Commission.

A 90‑day grace period has been granted from the date of the public notice for affected entities to restore compliance.

The targeted companies include those that have not traded or filed annual returns for at least ten years or failed to disclose Persons with Significant Control (PSC).

These firms are considered inactive or non‑compliant under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, raising concerns about stagnant corporate registry data.

To avert delisting, businesses must file all outstanding annual returns immediately and, where required, send activation emails to activation@cac.gov.ng.

The notice warns it is unlawful for any struck‑off company to continue operations unless formally restored via a Federal High Court order, reinforcing legal consequences for non‑compliance.

The move is part of CAC’s wider efforts to sanitize Nigeria’s corporate registry and remove inactive entities from official records, aligning with international anti‑money laundering and corporate governance best practices.

Enhancing transparency around company ownership, including PSC disclosure, supports stronger regulatory standards.

In November 2024, CAC previously delisted several firms after a similar notice in July, dissolving names under Section 692(4) of CAMA for non‑filing. Those companies were deemed dissolved from the notice publication date, and transactions with them became illegal.

All registered companies must file annual returns within 42 days of their incorporation anniversary, while business names must file before June 30 annually. Late filing incurs penalties plus the return fees and exposes the firm to strike‑off risk.

The 100,000 companies scheduled for delisting can be found at  https://www.cac.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/List-of-100k-Companies-5th-Batch.xlsx

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