President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
The nomination was announced in a statement on Wednesday 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 is subject to Senate confirmation in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act.
Yusuf is a career diplomat who served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye between 2021 and 2024.
Professor Abdullahi Usman resigned earlier this week, citing purely personal reasons. In a statement, he said his decision followed careful reflection and consultation with his family, and expressed gratitude to the President, Vice President, and NAHCON stakeholders for their support.
His resignation came after 11 NAHCON board members submitted a petition to Tinubu on January 19 alleging financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and contract awards beyond board approval and budget limits. Usman denied any wrongdoing.
