Thousands of youth leaders under the banner of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Thursday took to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) headquarters in Abuja to protest the deregistration of the council.

Led by the NYCN President, Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, the protesters launched a 30-day continuous demonstration, demanding the immediate sack of the CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), whom they accused of carrying out an illegal and politically motivated move against Nigeria’s foremost youth organization.

It will be recalled that Sukubo was re-elected as NYCN President during the council’s national convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from September 19 to 22.

Just days after his victory, the Federal Ministry of Youth announced on Tuesday that the CAC had deregistered the NYCN, despite several ongoing court cases on the matter.

Consequently, on Thursday, the protesters stormed the Commission's headquarters, demanding the immediate sack of the CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), whom they accused of acting unlawfully. 

The enraged youths barricaded all major access roads leading to the building, shut down the main entrance, and chanted solidarity songs while waving NYCN flags.

Armed with placards bearing bold inscriptions such as “Registrar-General Must Go,” “Nigerian Youths Reject CAC Tyranny,” " The illegality can not stand", "RG's Action is an affront  to Nigeria Youths", "Deregistration of NYCN is a Security Threat", “Ishaq Hussain Magaji Must Go,” and “We Say No to Illegality,” the protesters demanded the immediate reversal of NYCN’s deregistration and the resignation of the CAC boss.

Speaking to journalists, Sukubo condemned the CAC's decision, describing it as a threat to national security. 

The NYCN President further stated that some of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's appointees are undermining his Renewed Hope Agenda through their actions.

He stated, "If it is true, it means the Registrar General, Magaji's action is an affront to the judicial system in Nigeria.This matter has already been addressed by Justice Okoro at the Federal High Court, and as I speak, it is pending before the Court of Appeal in Abuja. I see no reason why anyone should take personal action against a matter that the Court of Appeal has yet to decide.

"Mr. President, we have observed that some of your appointees are incompetent. They cannot deliver what is expected. The Nigerian youth have supported you, but today we face significant challenges in your government due to poor political judgment and inefficiency from the appointees.

"We are calling on you, President Bola Tinubu, to remove Magaji, S.A.N., the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission.

"This protest will continue for 30 days. We are starting today at the headquarters, and we will persist until the full 30 days are completed because we will not rest until he is removed. And NYCN his re-resgsitered.

"We also call on the Senate President to summon this individual, and on the National Security Adviser to take action to ensure that he is either removed or relieved of his duties immediately. This situation is an affront to the judicial system and poses a threat to national security.
The Nigerian youth are suffering, and this man is adding insult to injury. We cannot accept the deregistration of NYCN that cater for Youths welfare, and we will continue to fight for our rights."

The NYCN National Secretary, Comrade Gara Nongha, described the Council's deregistration by the CAC as illegal.

He stated, " We are here to register our displeasure over the unlawful deregistration of the NYCN by the CAC. We demand the immediate reinstatement of the Council.

"NYCN is the apex body of Nigerian youth, and as their leaders, we will not allow this injustice to prevail."

Also, Former Secretary General of NYCN, Barrister Abubakar Suleiman, said, Magaji (SAN), is sabotaging President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by delisting NYCN from CAC without waiting for court judgment.

He said: "Over 3,000 Nigeria youth are gathered here today, because of the impunity, lawlessness and the attitude of the Registrar General of the CAC. Nigeria is a federation. We are not living in a country of anomie. We are living in a country where the law works. The National Youth Council of Nigeria, the highest youth council, have its organisation registered with the CAC, Corporate and Affairs Commission.

"Just recently, two days ago, there was a publication from the CAC, Corporate and  Fair Commission, that he has withdrawn the certificate of National Youth Council of Nigeria, as well as set up a committee to manage the affairs of the council. We have a pending suit at the court of appeal against CAC. CAC is a party to a suit that is pending at the court of appeal.

"We had won a suit in federal high courts. So they infer that CAC have no power to delist the Youth Council of Nigeria. But quite unfortunately, the Registrar General went and delisted the Youth Council of Nigeria from the portal of CAC, and issued a publication, as well as set up a committee to manage the affairs of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

"We are here to say no. Enough to impunity. Enough to this. The RG must go. It is obvious that the RG of CAC is working against the ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Renewed Hope Agenda that we are all clamouring for, and we are all supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda.

"The RG, who is an employee of the presidency, is working against President Tinubu. We are here today to tell Nigerians, to tell the world that enough is enough. Enough of impunity.
Enough of lawlessness. It is time that Nigeria youths raised their voice and tell President Tinubu, RG must go. 

"We are not just doing here today. We are not just stopping here. This is the first day of our flagging off. For 30 days, this protest will continue.

"Until President Tinubu sacks RG. We have mobilised our youths across the 36 states plus FCT, 774 local governments, to do the same protest in every state that CAC office is located. We are not leaving any CAC office until the RG is sacked.

"We know a lot of impunity is going on in this office. So many staff were employed at the background, without following due process. We are not ready to say that.
The same RG has a pending case before Court of Appeal. And the same RG is here again to delist National Council of Nigeria from the list unlawfully, while there is a pending suit in the Court of Appeal. And we have won a suit at the Federal High Court and we got judgment. 

"So on which ground is he deregistering NYCN? RG is a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I'm a member of the Bar. I wonder how such person of hierarchy of the profession, a noble profession, a gentleman to the court, will do this. We say no to this impunity."

Speaking on behalf of the CAC, Acting Registrar General and Director of Customer Service, Julius Hanga, stated that NYCN was deregistered for a year to allow time for all outstanding issues to be addressed. 

He assured that, in due course, the matters would be resolved and NYCN would be reinstated on the CAC portal.