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Tensions Rise as Youth Council Protests CAC Deregistration

Published

2 months ago

October 9, 2025

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.

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Over 50 CSOs Dismiss Corruption Allegations Against NMDPRA Boss Farouk Ahmed

Published

46 mins ago

December 16, 2025

The Gleamer

…Accuse Dangote of undermining regulatory independence

Over fifty Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Monday rose in strong defence of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, unanimously dismissing allegations of corruption levelled against him by Mr Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, as false, unfounded and unsupported by evidence.

The CSOs made their position known at a joint press conference in Abuja, where they described the allegations as a calculated attempt to discredit the leadership of the NMDPRA over its firm stance against monopolistic practices in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition, the Convener, Comrade Ibrahim Bello, who is also the National Coordinator of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI), said the organisations had conducted internal reviews and assessments and found no basis whatsoever for the claims of corruption against the NMDPRA boss.

“Our findings clearly show that Mr Farouk Ahmed has not engaged in any corrupt practice. Rather, he has been repositioning the downstream sector to promote fairness, competition and efficiency, while ensuring that no single entity monopolises the industry to the detriment of Nigerians,” Bello stated.

He added that the leadership of the NMDPRA under Ahmed has remained faithful to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), strengthening regulatory transparency and creating opportunities for more investors to participate in the sector.

The coalition specifically debunked claims attributed to Mr Dangote that the NMDPRA CEO allegedly paid five million United States dollars ($5 million) as school fees for his children in Switzerland, stressing that no proof or verifiable evidence had been provided to substantiate such assertions.

According to the CSOs, making such grave allegations in the media without recourse to due process poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s regulatory institutions and reform agenda.

Prominent members of the coalition who endorsed the position include Hajiya Fatima Sani, Executive Director of Citizens Watch for Good Governance (CWGG); Barrister Chukwudi Eze, Chairman of the Accountability and Democratic Values Initiative (ADVI); Dr Mrs Ngozi Okeke, President of the Nigerian Coalition Against Corruption and Waste (NCACW); and Pastor Emmanuel Adebayo, General Secretary of the Voice of Conscience Foundation (VOCF).

Others are Mr Tunde Ogunleye, National Convener of the Integrity Monitors Network (IMN); Ms Chioma Nwosu, Chairperson of Patriots for Transparent Procurement (PTP); Comrade Aisha Yusuf, National Secretary of the Civil Liberties and Anti-Corruption Movement (CLACOM); and Engr. Musa Abdullahi, Director of Programmes at the Due Process Advocacy Network (DPAN).

Also lending their voices were Prof. Grace Adeyemi, Board Chair of the National Alliance for Ethical Leadership (NAEL); Mr Segun Olawale, Spokesperson for the Citizens Coalition for Open Governance (CCOG); Barr. (Mrs.) Funmi Adewole, Legal Adviser to the Justice and Accountability Project (JAP); and Alhaji Usman Danladi, Northern Coordinator of the Nigerian Integrity and Development Forum (NIDF).

Regional leaders present included Rev. Fr. Joseph Okon, South-South Zonal Chairman of the Public Funds Protection Movement (PFPM); Ms Bolanle Adeoti, Women Leader of Transparency and Responsibility Advocates (TRA); Elder Peter Okonkwo, South-East Coordinator of the Good Governance Monitors Assembly (GGMA); and Mallam Bello Yakubu, North-West Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Crusaders Network (ACCN), alongside representatives of several other organisations.

The CSOs argued that the sustained attacks on the NMDPRA leadership stem from its refusal to compromise regulatory standards or allow any company to dominate the petroleum downstream space.

“We believe these allegations are aimed at intimidating the regulator because of its insistence on fairness, competition and value for Nigerians,” the coalition said.

While reaffirming their commitment to transparency and accountability, the organisations urged individuals and corporate entities with genuine grievances to follow due process, rather than resorting to media trials.

They called on Nigerians to disregard the unproven allegations, urged stakeholders in the petroleum sector to respect regulatory institutions, and appealed to the Federal Government to continue supporting the independence and reform-driven leadership of the NMDPRA.

The coalition concluded by reaffirming its full confidence in Mr Farouk Ahmed, describing him as a regulator whose actions have strengthened credibility, boosted stakeholder confidence and safeguarded the national interest in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum industry.

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