Business verification in Nigeria
VBC certifies businesses registered in Nigeria. Verification starts from the official record: in Nigeria the company register is maintained by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the entity is identified by its RC number for companies, or BN number for business names.
Nigerian entities carry an RC number if incorporated or a BN number if registered as a business name, and the prefix alone indicates which form applies.
Where a business is registered for tax, the Tax Identification Number issued by the FIRS is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why Nigerian businesses certify
Nigeria has a very large and fast-growing business population, and buyers both domestic and international face a real problem distinguishing substantial companies from thinly evidenced ones. The RC or BN prefix at least establishes the entity form immediately.
What VBC verifies for a Nigerian business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a Nigerian business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- CAC certificate of incorporation or business name registration
- CAC status report
- Memorandum and articles of association
- TIN certificate
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a Nigerian business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from Nigerian businesses
Can a business registered in Nigeria get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in Nigeria. Verification is based on records from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a Nigerian business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a Nigerian business normally supplies: cAC certificate of incorporation or business name registration; cAC status report; memorandum and articles of association; tIN certificate. The Tax Identification Number issued by the FIRS is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the RC number for companies, or BN number for business names used for in verification?
The RC number for companies, or BN number for business names identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a Nigerian business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in Nigeria?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in Nigeria remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a Nigerian business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.