Dozens of Nigerian youths, operating under the banner of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), on Thursday staged a protest at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) headquarters in Abuja. The demonstration was in reaction to the Commission’s recent move to deregister the council.
The protest, spearheaded by NYCN President, Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, signaled the launch of a 30-day nationwide demonstration intended to compel the CAC to reverse its decision and to demand the removal of the Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN.
Participants accused Magaji of disregarding court orders, claiming that the deregistration was executed despite the existence of a pending court case.
This development followed confirmation from the Federal Ministry of Youth that the CAC had indeed withdrawn NYCN’s registration certificate and appointed a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs, even though the case remains under consideration at the Court of Appeal.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Registrar-General Must Go,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Deregistration of NYCN is a Security Concern,” the protesters blocked the CAC’s main gate, chanting solidarity songs and calling for justice.
Speaking to reporters during the protest, Sukubo described the CAC’s action as a violation of judicial authority.
“This issue has already been ruled on by the Federal High Court and is currently pending before the Court of Appeal. We insist that due legal processes must be followed before any administrative decision is implemented,” he said.
He emphasized that the youth would not back down until the council’s recognition was fully restored.
“We will sustain peaceful protests for 30 days across the country until NYCN is reinstated. We also urge relevant authorities to intervene because this matter affects the voice and unity of Nigerian youth,” Sukubo stated.
NYCN National Secretary, Comrade Gara Nongha, also expressed disapproval of the CAC’s move, describing it as “deeply worrisome” and calling for a prompt reversal.
“The NYCN is the legitimate umbrella body representing millions of Nigerian youths. We are demanding that its full registration rights be restored without delay,” he declared.
Similarly, former NYCN Secretary-General, Barrister Abubakar Suleiman, emphasized that the issue remained a legal matter and must be treated as such.
“The Federal High Court has already given directives on this matter. Any further steps must comply with the ongoing court proceedings,” he said.
Reacting to the protest, Acting Registrar-General and CAC Director of Customer Service, Julius Hanga, clarified that the deregistration was temporary and aimed at addressing unresolved administrative concerns.
He assured that the Commission was currently reviewing the situation and that NYCN’s registration status would be reinstated once all legal and procedural matters were settled.
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