The Federal Ministry of Interior has launched a new online platform: the Citizenship and Business (CandB) Management Portal, to replace the former ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng system. This marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s management of expatriate quota, business permits, and citizenship services, aimed at enhancing digital access, transparency, and regulatory efficiency.
About the New CandB Platform
The CandB portal, accessible at https://candb.interior.gov.ng, is now the designated digital hub for:
- Business permit applications and renewals
- Expatriate quota processing
- Monthly returns filings
- Citizenship services
- Business documents upload and compliance filings
Users are now required to register on this platform to continue accessing these services.
Onboarding Instructions
To onboard successfully:
- Visit https://candb.interior.gov.ng
- Sign up afresh with your former ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng login username (or new username if onboarding as first time user), create password and verify email.
- Upload required company records and documents.
- Review and confirm your organization’s details.
⚠️ Only the official domains interior.gov.ng and candb.interior.gov.ng are recognized by the Ministry. Do not use or engage with ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng, which is unauthorized.
Support inquiries can be directed to candb-support@interior.gov.ng.
Key Implementation Notes
- The platform is still in an optimization phase and currently has no user manual yet.
- User data migration from the old platform will occur in phases.
- All businesses must open new user accounts in preparation for this migration.
- To begin any quota-related process, companies must upload valid business permit documentation and receive a Business Number via the platform.
- While new applications can now be submitted online, existing account history and files are not yet accessible digitally, meaning some manual verification will continue alongside digital processing.
New Official Fees for Business and Expatriate Services
| S/N | Service | New Fee (₦ / $) |
| 1 | Business Permit (Ltd, LLP) | ₦1,500,000 |
| 2 | Business Permit (Business Name, LP) | ₦750,000 |
| 3 | Religious Org. (Ltd by Guarantee/Incorp. Trustees) | ₦500,000 |
| 4 | Other Ltd by Guarantee/Incorp. Trustees | ₦750,000 |
| 5 | Establishment of EQP | ₦1,000,000 |
| 6 | Amendment of Business Permit | ₦500,000 |
| 7 | Renewal of Expatriate Quota | ₦500,000 |
| 8 | Renewal for Religious Org. | ₦250,000 |
| 9 | Additional Quota | ₦500,000 |
| 10 | Quota Appeal | ₦400,000 |
| 11 | Re-designation of Quota | ₦500,000 |
| 12 | Stay of Action | ₦150,000 |
| 13 | Upgrade to PUR Quota | ₦20,000,000 |
| 14 | Re-designation of PUR Quota | ₦10,000,000 |
| 15 | Downgrade of PUR Quota | ₦5,000,000 |
| 16 | Revalidation of PUR Quota (after 10 years) | $10,000 |
| 17 | Project-tagged Quota | ₦500,000 |
| 18 | Extension of Project-tagged Quota | ₦500,000 |
| 19 | Relinquishment of Quota | ₦250,000 |
| 20 | E-CERPAC | $2,000 |
| 21 | Expatriate Insurance (90–180 Days) | $500 |
| 22 | Expatriate Insurance (1 year) | $1,000 |
| 23 | Temporary Work Permit (3 Months) | $600 |
| 24 | Temporary Work Permit (6 Months) | $1,100 |
New Official Fees for Citizenship Services
| S/N | Service | New Fee (₦) |
| 1 | Grant of Citizenship (Naturalization) | ₦15,000,000 |
| 2 | Grant of Citizenship (Registration) | ₦15,000,000 |
| 3 | Renunciation of Nigerian Citizenship | ₦5,000,000 |
| 4 | Special Immigrant Status (SIS) | ₦10,000,000 |
| 5 | Temporary Residence Permit (Original, 3 years) | ₦5,000,000 |
| 6 | Temporary Residence Permit (Renewal, 2 years) | ₦3,000,000 |
Final Notes
The rollout of the new CandB platform represents a critical digital transformation in Nigeria’s business regulation and immigration system. While early-stage limitations exist, businesses are advised to initiate onboarding and stay updated on system improvements. Compliance with the new platform and fee structure is now mandatory for all applicants.
Businesses, HR professionals, and immigration service providers should update their internal processes and begin preparing for full transition and integration.