Manny Ita –
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally 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 through a statement released on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The nomination has been forwarded to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with a request for “expeditious confirmation” in accordance with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006. If confirmed, Ambassador Yusuf will succeed Professor Abdullahi Usman, who tendered his resignation earlier this week following a 14-month tenure marked by internal friction and a recent petition from board members regarding administrative conduct.
Ambassador Yusuf is a seasoned career diplomat with a high-profile background in international relations, most notably serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024. The Presidency has expressed strong confidence that his diplomatic background will stabilize the commission, which is currently preparing for upcoming pilgrimage operations. In the official communication, the President highlighted that the appointment is aimed at ensuring “institutional leadership and enhancing the efficiency of Nigeria’s Hajj operations,” while reinforcing a commitment to transparency and service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims.
The transition comes at a critical time for the commission as it faces pressure to implement reforms following the departure of Professor Usman. In his resignation statement, the outgoing chairman cited “careful reflection and consultation with his family” as the primary reason for stepping down, despite denying various allegations of financial indiscipline raised by the board. The statement from the State House emphasized that the selection of Ambassador Yusuf is part of a broader strategy to “strengthen institutional leadership at NAHCON” and restore stakeholder confidence in the management of the nation’s Hajj affairs.
