Professor Abdullahi Usman, chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has resigned from his position.
Ahmed Muazu, media assitant to the Usman conmfirmed the development to journalists on Monday night.
Usman’s resignation comes as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) deepens its probe into the commission over alleged multi-billion-naira fraud.
No official reason was provided for his resignation at the time of reporting.
Professor Usman was appointed NAHCON chairman by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 and oversaw his first Hajj operations in 2025, marking his debut in managing Nigeria’s Hajj affairs at the national level.
He replaced Jalal Arabi, who had been removed amid investigations into alleged misappropriation of federal funds for the 2024 pilgrimage.
Usman’s tenure, though brief, was marked by controversies, including allegations of financial mismanagement during the 2025 Hajj exercise. These issues fueled internal disagreements and attracted public scrutiny.
EFCC Probe Over Alleged Large-Scale Financial Misconduct
The EFCC had detained Prof. Usman, alognside other directors in the commission over alleged large-scale financial misconduct related to the 2025 Hajj operations.
Usman was subsequently released on administrative bail.
The probe follows mounting allegations of corruption within the commission, including the alleged diversion and misappropriation of over N50 billion. Specific claims include the unauthorized use of N25 billion for Masha’ir tents, N7.9 billion for contingency housing, and N1.6 billion in travel expenses for officials’ spouses.
The anti-graft commission also detained NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, and Finance, Aliu Abdulrazak, and Director of Finance and Accounts, Aminu Y. Muhammed, over their involvement in the scandal.
In a prior appearance before the House of Representatives during a public hearing, Usman admitted there were “dirty deals” within the organisation but pledged to support all efforts toward transparency and accountability.
In January 2026, the crisis escalated when some NAHCON commissioners reportedly submitted a petition to President Tinubu, expressing a vote of no confidence in Usman. The petition cited leadership failures and poor administrative conduct, deepening the internal rift.
The situation prompted intervention by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who convened a meeting with key stakeholders roughly two weeks ago to reconcile aggrieved parties and restore stability within the commission.
Usman’s resignation now raises questions about the future leadership of NAHCON and the management of Nigeria’s Hajj operations ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage.
Credit: firstweeklymagazine.com
