Dozens of Nigerian youths, under the umbrella of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), on Thursday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja to oppose the recent deregistration of the council.
The demonstration, led by NYCN President, Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, marked the start of a 30-day nationwide protest aimed at compelling the CAC to reverse its decision and remove the Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN.
Protesters accused Magaji of contempt of court, alleging that the deregistration was executed despite an ongoing legal dispute.
The protest followed confirmation by the Federal Ministry of Youth that the CAC had revoked NYCN’s registration certificate and appointed a caretaker committee to manage its affairs, even as the case remains pending before the Court of Appeal.
Displaying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Registrar-General Must Go,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Deregistration of NYCN is a Security Concern,” the demonstrators blocked the main gate of the CAC headquarters while chanting solidarity songs and calling for justice.
Addressing journalists, 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 vowed that the protests would continue until the council’s registration is reinstated.
“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 added.
NYCN National Secretary, Comrade Gara Nongha, described the CAC’s decision as “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 stated.
Similarly, former NYCN Secretary-General, Barrister Abubakar Suleiman, emphasized that the matter is before the court and must follow due process.
“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, clarified that the deregistration was temporary, explaining that it was intended to resolve certain administrative and legal issues.
He assured that the Commission was reviewing the situation and that the NYCN’s registration status would be restored once all matters were duly resolved.
