PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed 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.
News Point Nigeria reports that the nomination, which is in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2026, was formally conveyed to the Senate on Tuesday through a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In the correspondence, President Tinubu requested the expeditious screening and confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to enable him assume leadership of the commission without delay.
The development follows the resignation of the immediate past Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Usman, who stepped down earlier this week after approximately 14 months in office. While details surrounding his resignation were not immediately disclosed, the Presidency has moved swiftly to fill the leadership vacuum at the commission.
Ambassador Yusuf is a seasoned Nigerian career diplomat with decades of experience in public service and international relations.
He most recently served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024, where he represented the country in diplomatic engagements and strengthened bilateral ties between both nations.
His nomination is widely seen as part of the administration’s efforts to reposition NAHCON ahead of forthcoming Hajj operations.
The commission plays a critical role in organizing, supervising, and coordinating the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for Nigerian Muslims, including liaising with Saudi authorities, state pilgrims’ boards, and other relevant stakeholders.
If confirmed by the Senate, Ambassador Yusuf will assume responsibility for overseeing preparations for future Hajj exercises, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, improving pilgrims’ welfare, and maintaining transparency and accountability within the commission.
The Senate is expected to schedule his screening in the coming days as part of its constitutional duty to consider and confirm presidential appointments.
With the nomination now before the upper legislative chamber, attention shifts to the Senate as it deliberates on the appointment of the career diplomat to steer the affairs of the National Hajj Commission at a crucial time.
