JUST-IN: Months To Hajj Exercise, NAHCON Chairman Resigns Amid Controversies

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, has resigned from his position amid ongoing controversies and internal disputes within the commission.

His resignation was confirmed late Monday night by his media assistant, Ahmed Muazu, who declined to provide details on the reasons behind the decision.

“Yes, the chairman has resigned. That’s all I can confirm for now,” Muazu said in a brief message to journalists.

LEADERSHIP reports that Prof. Usman was appointed in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu to replace Jalal Arabi, who was dismissed while facing a probe over alleged misappropriation of funds allocated for the 2024 Hajj operations.

Since assuming office, Prof. Usman has had a turbulent tenure. His first major assignment —the coordination of the 2025 Hajj exercise, was dogged by allegations of financial irregularities and administrative lapses. These claims reportedly fueled internal rifts among senior officials and drew scrutiny from stakeholders in Nigeria’s Hajj sector.

The situation worsened in January 2026, when several commissioners within NAHCON submitted a petition to President Tinubu, expressing a vote of no confidence in the chairman. The petition accused Prof. Usman of “leadership failure” and “poor administrative conduct,” further deepening the crisis in the agency.

In an attempt to resolve the dispute, Vice President Kashim Shettima convened a high-level reconciliation meeting about two weeks ago with key Hajj stakeholders. Despite the intervention, tensions persisted within the commission.

Prof. Usman’s resignation now casts uncertainty over the leadership and direction of NAHCON ahead of the 2026 Hajj operations, which about four months from now.