President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), replacing Jalal Arabi, who was appointed just last October. Arabi’s removal follows an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the alleged mismanagement of a N90 billion Hajj subsidy, during which Arabi has been questioned and detained.
The announcement of Arabi’s removal and Usman’s appointment was made in a statement on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. The statement, titled “President Tinubu Appoints Chairman of National Hajj Commission,” confirmed the leadership change at NAHCON.
On August 16, the EFCC disclosed that it had detained Arabi and the commission’s Secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, in connection with illegal withdrawals and alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion Hajj intervention fund. The anti-graft agency revealed that SR314,098 was recovered from Arabi and other senior officials and that Arabi had allegedly overpaid himself and others from the subsidy fund beyond what was required for operational costs.
In announcing the appointment of the new NAHCON chairman, the Presidency described Professor Usman as a “renowned scholar” with qualifications from both the University of Madinah and Peshawar University in Pakistan. The statement noted that Usman is experienced in Hajj operations, having previously served as Chairman of the Kano State Pilgrims Board, where he managed the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.
Usman’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Ngelale added that President Tinubu expects the new NAHCON Chairman to perform his duties with “integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.”
