Tinubu nominates ex-Turkiye Envoy as NAHCON Chairman

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

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 Senate confirmation.

The President has formally written to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, seeking expeditious approval of the nomination in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

If confirmed, Ambassador Yusuf will replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned earlier this week after about 14 months in office.

Yusuf is a seasoned Nigerian career diplomat with extensive experience in foreign service. He served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024, where he represented the country’s diplomatic and strategic interests.

His nomination comes at a critical period for NAHCON, the body responsible for the regulation and supervision of Hajj and Umrah activities for Nigerian pilgrims. The commission plays a pivotal role in coordinating logistics, welfare and international engagements with Saudi authorities ahead of the annual pilgrimage.

PM NEWS reports that the appointment signals the administration’s move to stabilise leadership at the commission following Usman’s resignation and to ensure continuity in preparations for forthcoming Hajj operations.