CAC Change of Company Name (Nigeria)

A Nigeria CAC Change of Company Name application is the statutory process by which a company registered in Nigeria applies to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to adopt a new registered name under Sections 31 to 37 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020. The CAC is the government agency established under Section 1 of CAMA 2020 to administer company law in Nigeria, maintain the companies register, and issue certificates of registration and change.

The process requires a special resolution of shareholders under Section 258(1) of CAMA 2020 — passed by a majority of not less than 75% of voting members — followed by a formal application to the CAC with the prescribed documents and payment of the filing fee under the Companies Regulations 2021. Upon approval, the CAC issues a Certificate of Change of Name, and the company's entries in the Companies Register maintained at cac.gov.ng are updated to reflect the new name.

A name change under CAMA 2020 does not alter the company's legal identity, RC Number, or existing contractual obligations. Section 36 of CAMA 2020 expressly provides that the change of name does not affect the rights, obligations, or pending legal proceedings of the company. The company continues to exist as the same legal entity, just under a different name.

For companies operating in regulated sectors — financial services (CBN), insurance (NAICOM), capital markets (SEC), food and drug manufacturing (NAFDAC), or oil and gas (DPR/NUPRC) — a change of company name triggers additional notification obligations to the relevant sectoral regulator, whose licences must be re-issued or endorsed in the new name. The CAC's approval is a prerequisite for all such downstream regulatory updates.

The legal framework governing the CAC Change of Company Name (Nigeria) in Nigeria draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Parties executing a CAC Change of Company Name (Nigeria) in Nigeria should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 sets the foundational requirements.

A CAC Change of Company Name application in Nigeria is needed in the following situations.

When a company undergoes a rebrand or changes its business focus, the shareholders may vote to adopt a new name that better reflects the company's current identity or market positioning. The special resolution procedure under CAMA 2020 applies regardless of the reason for the name change.

When the CAC issues a direction to change a company's name under Section 37 of CAMA 2020 — for example, where the CAC determines that the registered name is too similar to another company's name or is misleading — the company must comply within 60 days of receiving the direction.

When a company is acquired or merges with another entity, the acquirer or merged entity may require the target company to change its name as a condition of the transaction, to eliminate brand confusion or to comply with the acquirer's corporate naming policy.

When a company's name contains regulated words (such as 'bank', 'trust', or 'insurance') and the company loses or surrenders the relevant regulatory licence, the regulatory body may require the company to drop the regulated word from its name, necessitating a CAC name change application.

For foreign-owned companies or subsidiaries of multinational corporations, a parent company rebrand at the international level commonly triggers a requirement to align the Nigerian subsidiary's registered name, requiring a CAC Change of Company Name filing.

Parties in Nigeria should prepare a CAC Change of Company Name (Nigeria) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.

A complete CAC Change of Company Name application under CAMA 2020 must contain the following elements.

Company details: The current registered name, RC Number, registered address, company type (private limited, public limited, or unlimited), and date of incorporation. These must match the CAC register precisely.

Proposed new name: The proposed new name, with confirmation that a name availability search has been conducted on the CAC CRP and the name is available. Two alternative names should be provided in order of preference, in case the first choice is unavailable.

Special resolution: A certified copy of the special resolution passed by shareholders under Section 258(1) of CAMA 2020, recording the percentage of votes in favour, the date of the general meeting (or written resolution date), and the exact wording of the resolution.

Regulatory consent (if applicable): Where the proposed name contains a word regulated under the Companies Regulations 2021 or requires prior consent from the CBN, NAICOM, SEC, or another regulatory body, the consent letter must be attached.

Authorised signatory: The application must be signed by a director or the company secretary and certified by a Legal Practitioner enrolled at the Nigerian Bar Association.

Filing fee: Payment receipt confirming the prescribed fee has been paid via Remita, at the rate set in the Companies Regulations 2021 (fees vary based on share capital).

Memorandum and Articles update: Where the company's name appears in its Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA), a concurrent special resolution to amend those documents under Section 28 of CAMA 2020 should be included.

Additional compliance elements for a CAC Change of Company Name (Nigeria) used in Nigeria include: Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Nigeria-compliant documentation.