By Obinna Uballa
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, has resigned from office amid lingering controversies and deepening internal divisions within the commission.
His resignation was confirmed to Premium Times, an online newspaper, late Monday by his media aide, Ahmed Muazu, who did not disclose the reason for the decision at the time of filing this report.
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu in 2024, Usman oversaw his first Hajj operations in 2025, marking his debut in managing Nigeria’s pilgrimage affairs at the national level.
He took over from Jalal Arabi, who was removed from office while under investigation for the alleged misappropriation of funds released by the Federal Government for the 2024 Hajj.
However, Usman’s tenure soon became dogged by its own controversies. His leadership was reportedly marked by allegations of financial mismanagement and disputes over the handling of funds during the 2025 Hajj exercise, triggering tensions among commissioners and drawing public scrutiny to the commission.
The crisis escalated in January 2026 when some NAHCON commissioners reportedly submitted a petition to President Tinubu, passing a vote of no confidence in the chairman. The petition accused Usman of poor leadership and administrative lapses, further widening the rift within the agency.
The growing discord prompted the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who convened a meeting with key stakeholders about two weeks ago in a bid to restore calm and reconcile aggrieved parties.
