Dozens of Nigerian youths under the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Thursday staged a protest at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) headquarters in Abuja, condemning the Commission’s recent decision to deregister the council.
The demonstration, led by NYCN President, Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, marked the beginning of a 30-day nationwide protest aimed at forcing the CAC to reverse its action and remove the Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN.
The protesters accused Magaji of contempt of court, alleging that the deregistration was carried out despite an ongoing legal dispute.
The agitation came shortly after the Federal Ministry of Youth confirmed that the CAC had revoked NYCN’s registration certificate and installed a caretaker committee to oversee its operations, even as the matter remains before the Court of Appeal.
Displaying placards with messages such as “Registrar-General Must Go,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Deregistration of NYCN is a Security Concern,” the demonstrators blocked the main entrance to the CAC headquarters, chanting solidarity songs and demanding justice.
Addressing journalists at the scene, Sukubo described the deregistration as an affront to the rule of law.
“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 added that the youths would not relent until the council’s status was 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.
In his remarks, NYCN National Secretary, Comrade Gara Nongha, said the CAC’s decision was “deeply worrisome” and called for its immediate 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.
Also speaking, former NYCN Secretary-General, Barrister Abubakar Suleiman, stressed that the issue was already before the court and must be handled accordingly.
“The Federal High Court has already given directives on this matter. Any further steps must comply with the ongoing court proceedings,” he said.
Responding to the protesters, Acting Registrar-General and CAC Director of Customer Service, Julius Hanga, explained that the deregistration was only temporary and aimed at resolving outstanding issues.
He assured that the Commission was reviewing the situation and that the NYCN’s registration status would be restored once all legal and administrative matters were concluded.
