Youths Protest CAC’s Deregistration of NYCN

Hundreds of angry youths under the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja, demanding the immediate reversal of the Council’s deregistration.

Led by NYCN President Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, the protesters accused the Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), of acting unlawfully while a case on the Council’s status remains before the Court of Appeal.

Chanting solidarity songs and holding placards with inscriptions such as “Respect Court Orders” and “Registrar-General Must Go,” the demonstrators vowed to sustain a 30-day peaceful protest until the CAC reinstates the council’s registration.

Sukubo told reporters that the deregistration was “an abuse of process and contempt of court,” insisting that the NYCN remains a statutory youth body with full legal recognition.

He warned that the move could threaten national stability by silencing the legitimate voice of Nigerian youths.

NYCN National Secretary Comrade Gara Nongha also faulted the decision, describing it as an attack on youth representation.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and direct the CAC to comply with due process.

Former NYCN Secretary-General Barrister Abubakar Suleiman added that the matter was sub judice, stressing that administrative actions should not preempt a court ruling.

Responding to the protesters, Julius Hanga, Acting Registrar-General and Director of Customer Service at the CAC, described the deregistration as temporary, saying it was meant to allow the Commission address certain administrative and legal irregularities.

He assured that the council’s registration would be restored once the issues are resolved.

The protest follows the Federal Ministry of Youth’s announcement that CAC had withdrawn NYCN’s certificate and appointed a caretaker committee — a move that has drawn criticism from youth groups and civil society organisations nationwide.

As the demonstrations continue, the outcome of the legal and administrative tussle between the NYCN and CAC will determine the future of the nation’s largest youth organisation.