Tension flared in Abuja on Thursday as dozens of Nigerian youths, under the umbrella of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), staged a protest at the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) over the Commission’s decision to deregister the council.
The protest, led by NYCN President Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, signaled the start of a 30-day nationwide demonstration to demand the reversal of the deregistration and the removal of CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN.
Protesters accused Magaji of disregarding a pending court case, alleging that the CAC acted in contempt of court by revoking the NYCN’s registration despite an ongoing legal dispute at the Court of Appeal.
The protest followed confirmation from the Federal Ministry of Youth that the CAC had withdrawn NYCN’s registration and appointed a caretaker committee to run its affairs — a move the protesters described as “illegal and provocative.”
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Registrar-General Must Go,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Deregistration of NYCN Is a Threat to National Unity,” the youths blocked the main gate of the CAC office, chanting solidarity songs and calling for justice.
Speaking to journalists, Ambassador Sukubo condemned the Commission’s action as a violation of judicial authority.
“This issue has been decided by the Federal High Court and is still pending before the Court of Appeal. The CAC has no right to act while the matter is before the court,” Sukubo said.
He vowed that the youths would continue their peaceful demonstrations until the deregistration is reversed.
“We will continue to protest peacefully for 30 days nationwide. This is not just about NYCN — it’s about protecting the integrity of the Nigerian youth movement and the rule of law,” he added.
Also speaking, NYCN National Secretary Comrade Gara Nongha described the deregistration as “unacceptable and unlawful,” insisting that the council remains the only legitimate voice of Nigerian youths.
“We demand the immediate restoration of NYCN’s registration certificate. Anything short of that will be resisted,” Nongha stated.
Former NYCN Secretary-General Barr. Abubakar Suleiman also stressed that the CAC’s move violated existing court directives.
“The Federal High Court already gave clear orders on this matter. Any administrative action taken while the case is ongoing amounts to contempt,” he said.
Reacting to the protest, Julius Hanga, the Acting Registrar-General and CAC Director of Customer Service, said the deregistration was temporary and part of ongoing administrative restructuring.
“The Commission is reviewing the situation. Once all legal and administrative matters are resolved, NYCN’s registration status will be restored,” Hanga assured.
The protest temporarily disrupted activities at the CAC headquarters but remained largely peaceful, as security operatives were on ground to maintain order.
