In Nigeria, there are prohibited names and services that Businesses or Companies are not permitted to answer or to include in their name/ services for business or company registration in Nigeria by CAC.
What this means is, when panning to register a business or company formation in Nigeria, you don’t need to include the listed names or clause in your business or company name/ services. The commission will not approve such the name or service/product.
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) that is saddled with the responsibility to regulate the business/ company formation and management of in Nigeria stated that:
Read: Business/ Company Registration Services
No company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, business name or incorporated trustee shall be registered under this Act by a name or trademark which —
- is identical with that by which a company or limited liability partnership in existence is already registered, or so nearly resembles that name as to be calculated to deceive, except where the company or limited liability partnership in existence is in the course of being dissolved and signifies its consent in such manner as the Commission requires;
- contains the words “Chamber of Commerce” unless it is a company limited by guarantee;
- in the opinion of the Commission, is capable of misleading as to the nature or extent of its activities or is undesirable, offensive or otherwise contrary to public policy;
- in the opinion of the Commission, would violate or conflict with any existing trademark or business name registered in Nigeria or body corporate formed under this Act unless the consent of the owner of the trademark, business name or trustees of the body corporate has been obtained;
Read: Oil & Gas Business Registration/ Compliances in Nigeria
- contains any word which, in the opinion of the Commission is likely to mislead the public as to the nationality, race or religion of the persons by whom the business is wholly or mainly owned or controlled;
- is, in the opinion of the Commission, deceptive or objectionable in that it contains a reference or suggests association with any practice, institution, personage, foreign state or government, international organisation or international brand or is otherwise unsuitable; or
- is capable of undermining public peace and national security.
- contains the words “Centre or Center” unless it is a company limited by guarantee;