President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The nomination was conveyed in a letter sent by the President to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, requesting expeditious confirmation in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the appointment in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
“President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), subject to Senate confirmation,” Onanuga said.
He added that Yusuf was nominated to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned earlier this week after about 14 months in office.
“The President has requested the expeditious confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned this week after about 14 months in the post,” Onanuga stated.
According to the statement, Ambassador Yusuf is a seasoned career diplomat who served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye between 2021 and 2024.
Professor Abdullahi Usman was appointed by President Tinubu in late 2024 but tendered his resignation this week, marking one of the shortest tenures in the commission’s recent history.
While the presidency has not publicly detailed the circumstances surrounding his departure, the leadership change comes as preparations for the 2026 Hajj season intensify, with key logistical, diplomatic and financial arrangements typically concluded months ahead of the pilgrimage.
Ambassador Yusuf’s nomination signals the administration’s preference for diplomatic experience at the helm of the commission, particularly as NAHCON interfaces with Saudi authorities, international service providers and foreign missions in the coordination of pilgrimage operations.
