Nigeria Company Registration | Set Up a Limited Company in Nigeria
Planning Nigeria company registration to set up a company in Nigeria and enter the West African market? The most common entity is the private company limited by shares. It is registered online with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and a company with foreign participation then registers with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). According to the NIPC, foreigners can hold up to 100% of the shares in any sector outside the negative list, so foreign founders can own the whole company.
The CAC name reservation fee is NGN 500, the incorporation fee for issued share capital up to NGN 1,000,000 is NGN 10,000, and the NIPC registration processing fee is NGN 150,000. According to the PwC tax summary, company income tax is 30% for large companies and 0% for small companies, and VAT is 7.5%. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop service for setting up a Nigerian limited company: shareholding structure, CAC name reservation and incorporation, NIPC registration, business permit and annual filing reminders.
The NIPC states that foreigners can hold up to 100% of the shares in any sector. The negative list covers only a few sectors, such as arms and narcotic drugs.
The NIPC reports that Nigeria had a population of over 237 million and GDP of about USD 290.79 billion in 2025.
CAC company registration and NIPC registration can both be submitted and paid for online. The CAC says new company registrations are completed within 24 working hours.
According to the NIPC, foreign investors can freely repatriate profits, dividends and capital after tax. Free zones also offer tax and customs duty exemptions.
company registration?
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. The NIPC reports a 2025 population of over 237 million and GDP of about USD 290.79 billion. According to the NIPC, foreigners can hold up to 100% of the shares in sectors outside the negative list and can freely repatriate profits and capital after tax. Incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) can be done entirely online, and the registration fee for issued share capital up to NGN 1,000,000 is NGN 10,000. Free trade zones also offer tax and customs duty exemptions. Some governments currently advise against travel to Nigeria, so check the latest travel advice before planning staff travel.
in 3 steps
In Nigeria, the entity foreign investors most often set up is the private company limited by shares, where shareholders are liable only up to their capital contribution. After online registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the company receives an electronic certificate of incorporation. A company with foreign participation must also register with the NIPC and apply to the Ministry of Interior for a business permit, and hiring foreign staff requires an expatriate quota.
The online process to register a Nigerian company is clear, and the CAC says registration is completed within 24 working hours once the documents are complete. NIPC registration, the tax identification number, the business permit and the capital import all need preparation in advance, though. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, prepare documents and arrange annual filings and renewals, so your Nigerian company stays clear and compliant from setup through operations.
Run a name availability search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website, then formally apply to reserve the name. The fee is NGN 500. The CAC says name searches are processed within 4 working hours, and restricted words need separate consent.
On the CAC Company Registration Portal (CRP), enter the incorporation details, upload the shareholders’ and directors’ identity documents and the articles, and pay the registration fee and stamp duty online. Once the documents are complete, the CAC says registration is done within 24 working hours, and you can download the electronic certificate of incorporation and registration summary.
After incorporation, upload the certificate of incorporation, CAC status report, articles and power of attorney to the NIPC online portal and pay NGN 150,000. Review takes 48 working hours. Also obtain a tax identification number from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and apply to the Ministry of Interior for a business permit.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting the articles of association
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Nigeria bank account opening and capital import document advice
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document safekeeping and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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- Shareholding structure and issued share capital planning
- CAC name reservation and online incorporation
- NIPC registration for foreign-owned companies
- Business permit and NRS tax ID application support
- CAC annual return and NIPC annual renewal reminders
Official fees: name reservation NGN 500, incorporation fee from NGN 10,000 (issued share capital up to NGN 1,000,000), NIPC registration NGN 150,000; stamp duty and other items quoted
Nigeria company registration at a glance
These are the points people ask about most when registering a company in Nigeria, checked against official notices (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Private company limited by shares (Ltd) |
|---|---|
| Registry | Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); foreign-owned companies also register with the NIPC |
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% outside the negative list |
| Minimum capital | Issued share capital of NGN 100,000 for a private company (secondary source) |
| Corporate income tax | 30% for large companies, 0% for small companies, plus a 4% development levy |
| VAT | Standard rate 7.5% |
| Setup time | 24 working hours after the CAC has complete documents |
| Annual filing | Income tax return within 6 months of the year end; CAC annual return |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Nigeria company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government cost of registering a Nigerian company is mainly the CAC name reservation and incorporation fees, stamp duty on share capital and, for foreign-owned companies, the NIPC registration processing fee. The incorporation fee depends on the issued share capital. The official figures are listed below so you can check each line when you compare quotes.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | NGN 500 | Formally reserve the company name with the CAC. Restricted words need separate consent. |
| CAC incorporation fee | NGN 10,000 (share capital up to NGN 1,000,000) | For issued share capital above NGN 1,000,000 up to NGN 500,000,000, an extra NGN 5,000 is charged for every NGN 1,000,000 or part of it. |
| Stamp duty on share capital | 0.75% of issued share capital | According to the PwC tax summary, paid at incorporation or when new shares are issued. |
| NIPC registration for foreign-owned companies | NGN 150,000 | Required for companies with foreign participation. The processing fee for a new application is non-refundable, and registration is renewed every year. |
| CAC annual return | NGN 5,000 | Annual returns are filed every year. Company income tax is filed separately within 6 months of the year end. |
| Bookkeeping and tax filing | Quoted on volume | Company income tax self-assessment and VAT returns are arranged according to the size of your operations. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on shareholder structure, share capital planning, and whether you need a business permit and a bank account. Every item is listed, with no hidden fees. |
Fees are based on the CAC schedule of fees and the NIPC website (checked November 2026). Stamp duty is based on the PwC tax summary (secondary source). The latest official notices prevail.
Nigeria company tax and compliance: company income tax, VAT and annual filing
Nigeria taxes companies according to their size. Small companies pay 0% company income tax, and large companies also pay a development levy. The standard VAT rate is 7.5%. Each year a company self-assesses its income tax and files an annual return with the CAC, and foreign-owned companies also renew their NIPC registration. Shareholders should check whether their home country has a tax treaty with Nigeria, and their home country's controlled foreign company (CFC) rules.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company income tax | 30% for large companies / 0% for small companies | A small company has annual turnover of NGN 100,000,000 or less and fixed assets not over NGN 250,000,000. |
| Development levy | 4% of assessable profits | Applies to Nigerian companies, except small companies and non-resident companies. |
| Value added tax (VAT) | Standard rate 7.5% | Raised from 5% on February 1, 2020. Small businesses do not need to charge VAT. |
| Dividend withholding | 10% for non-residents | Shareholders from countries without a tax treaty with Nigeria pay the domestic rate. |
| Income tax return | Within 6 months of the year end | Or within 18 months of incorporation, whichever is earlier. An extension of up to 2 months can be requested. |
| CAC annual return | Filed every year | The fee for a private company that is not a small company is NGN 5,000, and the CAC says processing takes 24 working hours. |
| NIPC annual renewal | Every year | Businesses registered with the NIPC must renew their operating status each year. |
Tax rates and filing deadlines are based on the PwC tax summary (secondary source, reviewed May 2026), and NIPC and CAC rules on their official websites. Ask an accountant to assess your structure.
Private limited company, public limited company or exempted foreign company: which should you choose in Nigeria?
When foreign companies set up a company in Nigeria, they most often compare a private limited company (Ltd), a public limited company (Plc), or applying to the CAC for exemption from registration as a foreign company.
| Item | Private limited company (Ltd) | Public limited company (Plc) | Foreign company (exempted from registration) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Separate legal entity | Foreign legal entity that applies to the CAC for exemption |
| Minimum issued share capital | NGN 100,000 (secondary source) | NGN 2,000,000 (secondary source) | Ask our consultants |
| CAC incorporation fee | NGN 10,000 for share capital up to NGN 1,000,000 | NGN 20,000 for share capital up to NGN 1,000,000 | Exemption notice NGN 50,000 |
| Annual return fee | NGN 5,000 | NGN 10,000 | Foreign company annual return NGN 50,000 |
| Best for | Most foreign-owned small and medium businesses | Companies planning to raise funds from the public | Specific foreign companies approved for exemption |
These are general principles. Choose based on the shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Nigeria
- Travel safety: some governments currently issue their highest travel warning for Nigeria (Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs, for example, set level 4 red, "leave as soon as possible", on October 28, 2026). Check your own government's travel advice and register your trip before sending staff.
- Visas: Nigeria launched an e-visa system in May 2025, and travelers must submit online arrival and departure cards within 3 days before entering and leaving the country.
- Tax treaties: check whether your home country has an income tax treaty with Nigeria. Without one, double taxation is handled under each country's domestic law, and the 10% non-resident dividend withholding rate applies.
- Home-country rules: check whether your home country requires approval or a filing for outbound investment, and how its controlled foreign company (CFC) rules apply to a Nigerian subsidiary.
- Foreign exchange and banking: Nigeria has foreign exchange controls, few cash points accept international debit cards, and foreign credit cards often do not work. Allow time to prepare source-of-funds documents for the company bank account and capital import, since NIPC registration also requires proof of imported capital.
Why work with NSS Group on Nigeria company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and business advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and over 30,000 companies served. We provide company setup, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in Nigeria and many other countries and regions, and we can help with CAC online registration, NIPC registration and business permit documents. We give you a free assessment and a written quote. Call our toll-free line 0800-003-191 or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: Corporate Affairs Commission: Schedule of Fees (PDF); Corporate Affairs Commission: Revised Service Timelines; Corporate Affairs Commission: Company Registration; Corporate Affairs Commission: FAQ; NIPC: NIPC Business Registration; NIPC: Frequently Asked Questions; NIPC: Nigeria key insights; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-05-29); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria Other taxes (reviewed 2026-05-29); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-05-29); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Nigeria Tax administration (reviewed 2026-05-29); Mondaq: CAMA 2020 small companies, single director and single member companies. The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Nigeria in 2026?
According to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) schedule of fees, name reservation is NGN 500. The incorporation fee is NGN 10,000 for issued share capital up to NGN 1,000,000, plus NGN 5,000 for every additional NGN 1,000,000. According to PwC, stamp duty on share capital is 0.75%, and the NIPC registration processing fee for foreign-owned companies is NGN 150,000. Accounting and advisory services are quoted separately based on your needs.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Nigerian company?
Yes. According to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), foreigners can hold up to 100% of the shares in any sector. The negative list is limited to a few sectors such as arms, ammunition, narcotic drugs, and military and police uniforms. A company with foreign participation must register with the NIPC and obtain a business permit from the Ministry of Interior, and hiring foreign staff requires an expatriate quota.
Do I need to be in Nigeria to set up a company?
CAC company registration is submitted and paid for through the online Company Registration Portal, and NIPC registration can also be done entirely online, so you do not need to visit a government office. If you send staff to run the business locally, they need visas, a business permit and an expatriate quota. Some governments currently issue their highest travel warning for Nigeria, so check the latest travel advice before you go.
How long does it take to set up a company in Nigeria?
The CAC says new company registrations are completed within 24 working hours once the documents are complete or queries are answered, and name searches take 4 working hours. The NIPC processes registration within 48 working hours of receiving a complete application. The business permit, tax identification number and bank account depend on each agency’s review.
What company taxes and annual filings apply in Nigeria in 2026?
According to the PwC tax summary (reviewed May 2026), company income tax is 30% for large companies and 0% for small companies with annual turnover of NGN 100,000,000 or less and fixed assets not over NGN 250,000,000, plus a 4% development levy. VAT is 7.5%. The income tax return is due within 6 months of the year end or within 18 months of incorporation, and an annual return is filed with the CAC each year.
Who can help me register a company in Nigeria?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. NSS Group has more than 25 years of experience and has served over 30,000 companies. Our one-stop Nigeria company registration service covers shareholding structure and share capital planning, CAC name reservation and online incorporation, NIPC registration, business permit and tax identification number application support, and annual filing and renewal reminders. We give you a free assessment and a written quote. Call our toll-free line 0800-003-191.