- President Bola Tinubu nominates Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new NAHCON Chairman
- Yusuf is a career diplomat, former Nigerian Ambassador to Türkiye from 2021 to 2024
- The former chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman resigned citing personal reasons while denying allegations of financial misconduct
President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The announcement was made in a statement on Wednesday, February 11, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“President Tinubu sent a letter today to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, requesting the expeditious confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned this week, after about 14 months in the post,” the statement read.
The appointment, disclosed on Wednesday, February 11, is subject to confirmation by the Senate in accordance with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act.
Yusuf, a career diplomat, served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024.
NAHCON is the federal agency tasked with regulating and coordinating Hajj and Umrah operations in Nigeria, including licensing tour operators and ensuring the welfare of pilgrims.
In a separate statement issued in Abuja, Usman explained that his resignation was purely personal, emphasising that it “reflected no dissatisfaction with the commission, the government, or its mandate.”
He added, “I arrived at the decision after careful reflection and consultation with my family and thank the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the NAHCON board, management staff, and other stakeholders for their support during my tenure.”
Usman’s resignation follows a petition submitted by 11 NAHCON board members to President Tinubu on January 19, 2026, calling for his removal over alleged financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and repeated approval of expenditures and contracts beyond board approval and budget limits.
The board also accused him of awarding Hajj-related contracts in violation of the Bureau of Public Procurement Act, actions they said exposed the commission to legal, financial, and reputational risks.
Usman, however, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his decision to step down was “motivated solely by personal considerations.
House of Reps investigates Hajj Commission over 2024 irregularities
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had uncovered several infractions relating to the 2024 Hajj operation.
Chaired by Sada Soli, the committee's findings have sparked calls for reforms to address key challenges faced by Nigerian pilgrims.
The probe came in the wake of the Federal Government’s provision of a N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj, a move that sparked public controversy due to the ongoing economic challenges facing the country, particularly after the removal of the fuel subsidy.