The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Usman, has resigned from office, throwing the leadership of the federal hajj regulatory body into uncertainty at a critical time ahead of preparations for future pilgrimage exercises.
Although no official explanation has been issued for his decision, the resignation is widely believed to be connected to a petition reportedly submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by members of the NAHCON board, seeking his removal over alleged administrative and financial improprieties. As of Tuesday morning, the precise circumstances surrounding Usman’s exit remained unclear.
Confirming the development, the Technical Assistant on Media to the former chairman, Ahmad Mu’azu, told journalists that Usman had communicated his resignation informally late Monday night. According to him, the message was brief and did not outline any reasons for the decision. He added that a more detailed communication was expected to follow.
“Yes, he has resigned. However, he only sent a one-line message informing us of his resignation last night. We are still awaiting a proper explanation or official communication on the matter,” Mu’azu said.
Findings indicate that the resignation came in the wake of mounting pressure from the NAHCON board, which had earlier expressed deep concerns about Usman’s leadership. In a petition dated January 19, 2026, and reportedly signed by 11 board members, the governing council passed a vote of no confidence in the chairman, accusing him of financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and repeated violations of established governance procedures.
The petition, titled “Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman,” alleged that the former chairman authorised expenditures and awarded contracts without obtaining mandatory board approval, in some cases exceeding approved budgetary limits. The board claimed that despite prolonged internal monitoring and several attempts at corrective engagement, the alleged leadership failures persisted, ultimately undermining the credibility, stability, and operational effectiveness of the commission.
Before his resignation, Usman’s last known official engagement occurred last week in Abuja, where he hosted Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, as part of bilateral discussions on pilgrimage management and cooperation between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Professor Usman was appointed chairman of NAHCON by President Tinubu in 2024. His resignation now leaves the commission without substantive leadership, raising questions about succession arrangements and the federal government’s next steps in stabilising the agency.
As of the time of filing this report, neither NAHCON nor the Presidency had issued an official statement clarifying the reasons for Usman’s resignation or announcing an acting chairman to oversee the affairs of the commission.
