Scores of Nigerian youths under the aegis of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Thursday staged a protest at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) headquarters in Abuja over the recent deregistration of the council.

The demonstration, led by NYCN President, Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, marked the beginning of a planned 30-day nationwide protest demanding the reversal of the deregistration and the removal of the CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN).

The protesters accused the CAC of acting in contempt of court, noting that a legal case on the matter was still pending before the Court of Appeal.

The protest followed an announcement by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development that the CAC had withdrawn NYCN’s certificate of incorporation and appointed a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs, despite the ongoing litigation.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Registrar-General Must Go,” “Respect Court Orders,” and “Deregistration of NYCN Is a Security Concern,” the protesters blocked access roads leading to the CAC headquarters while chanting solidarity songs.

Addressing journalists, Sukubo described the CAC’s action as a disregard for the judicial process.

“This matter has already been addressed by the Federal High Court and is currently before the Court of Appeal in Abuja. We believe it should be resolved through the court process before any administrative action is taken,” he said.

He added that the protest would continue peacefully across the country until the NYCN’s certificate was restored.

“We will sustain peaceful demonstrations nationwide until the Council is reinstated. We are appealing to relevant authorities to intervene and ensure justice for Nigerian youths,” Sukubo stated.

Also speaking, NYCN National Secretary, Comrade Gara Nongha, described the deregistration as worrisome and urged the government to resolve the crisis without delay.

“The NYCN remains the recognised umbrella body for Nigerian youths. We are calling for a swift resolution that restores its full operational status,” Nongha said.

Similarly, former NYCN Secretary-General, Barrister Abubakar Suleiman, stressed that the matter was sub judice and urged all parties to respect due process.

“A Federal High Court had previously ruled on aspects of this issue. Any further action should align with the judicial process currently underway,” he said.

Reacting to the protest, CAC’s Acting Registrar-General and Director of Customer Service, Julius Hanga, said the deregistration was temporary, explaining that it was intended to allow all pending issues to be properly addressed.

“The Commission is working to resolve the matter, and the NYCN will be reinstated on the CAC portal once all legal and administrative concerns are fully settled,” Hanga said.