Tinubu nominates ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as new NAHCON Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf to serve as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

The appointment signals a fresh leadership direction for the commission responsible for coordinating and overseeing Hajj operations for Nigerian pilgrims.

The nomination was made public on Wednesday in an official statement released 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, announced on Wednesday, is subject to confirmation by the Senate in line with the provisions of Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act.

Yusuf is a career diplomat and served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye between 2021 and 2024.

NAHCON is the federal agency responsible for the regulation and coordination of Hajj and Umrah operations in Nigeria, including the licensing of tour operators and the welfare of pilgrims.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Usman said his decision to resign was purely for personal reasons, adding that it reflected no dissatisfaction with the commission, the government, or its mandate.

He said he arrived at the decision after careful reflection and consultation with his family and thanked the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the NAHCON board, management staff, and other stakeholders for their support during his tenure.

His resignation follows a petition submitted by 11 NAHCON board members to 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, exposing the commission to legal, financial, and reputational risks.

Usman, however, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his resignation was motivated solely by personal considerations.