IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FREE CAC REGISTRATION FACILITATED BY SMEDAN

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FREE CAC REGISTRATION FACILITATED BY SMEDAN

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON FREE CAC REGISTRATION FACILITATED BY SMEDAN

This is to formally inform the general public and all prospective applicants that only individuals who possess a valid SMEDAN certificate with an identification number beginning with “SUID” are eligible to participate in the ongoing Free CAC registration program currently being facilitated by SMEDAN.

Applicants whose SMEDAN certificate identification number begins with “SUIN” should note that they are not qualified for this particular Free CAC registration exercise. Such applications will not be accepted under the current arrangement.

Explanation and Reason for This Requirement

The SUID certificate is generated through a specialized SMEDAN digital platform that has been specifically designed to link an individual’s National Identification Number (NIN) directly to their business details. This process enables proper identity verification, prevents duplication, and ensures that each business registered under the Free CAC initiative is genuine and traceable.

On the other hand, the SUIN certificate is issued from a different registration process that does not meet the current verification requirements for this Free CAC program. For this reason, holders of SUIN certificates are excluded from the ongoing exercise.

One-Time Registration Policy

It is also important to note that registration on the SUID platform is strictly a one-time process. Once an applicant uses their NIN for registration, the system permanently binds that NIN to the registered business. This means the same NIN cannot be reused to create another new registration under a different business name.

If an applicant attempts to register again and the system indicates that the NIN has already been used, this confirms that the NIN is already associated with a previous registration. In such cases, a new registration will not be permitted.

What to Do If Your NIN Has Already Been Used

Applicants who encounter this issue are advised to retrieve their initial SMEDAN registration details, including their business information and certificate data. These previously registered details should then be used to proceed with the Free CAC certificate application, rather than attempting a fresh registration.

Official Portal

All registrations, verification processes, and retrieval of existing registration details should be carried out exclusively through the official SMEDAN portal:

https://portal.smedan.gov.ng

Applicants are strongly advised to ensure that all information provided during registration is accurate and consistent with their NIN records to avoid delays or disqualification.