Imagine waking up to find that your company, the one you spent years building, legally no longer exists. Your corporate bank account is frozen, your ongoing contracts are void, and your business name is suddenly up for grabs by a competitor. In 2026, this isn’t just a worst-case scenario, it is a reality for thousands of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has moved into a new era of aggressive enforcement. Gone are the days when a one-time registration was enough to keep you on the books forever. With the full integration of the AI-powered iCRP portal, the Commission is now “cleaning house” by striking off hundreds of thousands of companies deemed dormant or non-compliant.
If you haven’t been paying attention to your post-incorporation duties, your business might already be on the “Struck Off” shortlist. At Beebot, we want to ensure your vision remains protected. Here is the breakdown of the current striking-off threat and exactly how to stay in the CAC’s good graces this year.
The Cost of Silence: Why the CAC is Striking Off Companies in 2026
1. The “Inactive” Label is a Reputation Killer The first sign of trouble isn’t a letter in the mail; it’s the status bar on the CAC Public Search portal. In 2026, any business that has missed its Annual Returns is immediately flagged as “Inactive.” This is a public red flag. Investors, banks, and even savvy customers now check this status before doing business. An “Inactive” status signals that your business is either struggling or disorganized, often leading to lost bids and failed due diligence checks.
2. The 2026 Striking-Off Notice Blitz The CAC has recently issued mass notices to delist over 100,000 companies from its register. This “striking off” process is the ultimate administrative penalty for companies that have failed to file returns for ten consecutive years or more. However, in 2026, the window to rectify these issues is shrinking. Once your name is published on the striking-off list, you have a very limited grace period to file all outstanding returns and pay the accompanying penalties before your entity is legally dissolved.
3. Automatic Bank Account Freezes The synergy between the CAC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and commercial banks has never been tighter. If your company status changes to “Struck Off,” the CAC’s system pushes an automated update to the banking sector. Banks are now mandated to freeze the corporate accounts of dissolved entities. This means your capital becomes inaccessible, your payroll halts, and your operations grind to a standstill until you can prove legal restoration.
4. The Nightmare of Federal High Court Restoration Once a company is officially struck off, it cannot simply be “reactivated” with a few clicks. You lose your legal personality, meaning you can no longer sue to recover debts or sign valid contracts. To bring a struck-off company back to life, you must obtain a Federal High Court Order. This process is notoriously expensive, emotionally draining, and can take months of legal maneuvering, costs that far outweigh the simple price of annual compliance.
5. Loss of Your Business Identity One of the most “scary” aspects of being struck off is the loss of your name. When the CAC dissolves an entity, that business name eventually returns to the general pool of available names. If a new startup registers your exact name while you are in the “struck off” zone, you may never be able to get it back, effectively destroying years of brand equity and forcing you into a costly and confusing rebrand.
The 2026 Compliance Checklist: How to Keep Your Portal Status “Active”
1. Conduct a Quarterly Public Search Check Don’t wait for a notification that may never come. Make it a habit to visit the CAC Public Search portal every quarter. Enter your RC number or Business Name to verify that your status still reads “Active.” If it has flipped to “Inactive,” it means the system has flagged a missing filing, and you need to act immediately.
2. File Annual Returns on Your Anniversary Date The most important rule for 2026 is timely filing. For companies, returns are due within 18 months of incorporation for the first filing, and annually thereafter. A pro tip: don’t wait until December. File within 42 days of your Annual General Meeting (AGM) or on the anniversary of your registration to avoid the ₦5,000 (and counting) late penalty fees that accumulate every year.
3. Update Your “Persons with Significant Control” (PSC) Under the latest CAMA 2020 regulations, the CAC is strictly monitoring who truly owns and controls every business. If you have changed shareholders or added new partners with more than 5% stake without updating your PSC details on the portal, your company is at risk of being flagged as non-compliant. Ensure your beneficial ownership records are as current as your bank records.
4. Maintain a Traceable Registered Address In 2026, the CAC is increasingly using digital mapping and physical verification to ensure businesses aren’t just “ghost entities.” If you move your office, you must file a Notice of Change of Registered Address. If the CAC sends an official query to your old address and it is returned undelivered, they have “reasonable cause” to believe the company is no longer in operation, which triggers the striking-off process.
5. Automate Your Compliance with Beebot The easiest way to stay active is to take the “human error” out of the equation. Use Beebot to manage your post-incorporation filings. Our platform tracks your deadlines, handles the document uploads, and ensures your Annual Returns are processed through the iCRP portal correctly the first time. Why risk your entire legacy on a forgotten deadline? Contact us today to get started.