The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Usman, has officially resigned, citing personal reasons for stepping down.
Usman announced his resignation in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, denying any wrongdoing. He said the decision followed careful reflection and consultation with his family, and emphasized that it was not motivated by dissatisfaction with the commission or the government.
The resignation comes amid reports that the NAHCON board had submitted a petition to President Bola Tinubu calling for his removal over alleged financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and repeated approval of contracts and expenditures without board consent.
The petition, dated January 19, 2026, was signed by 11 board members and accused Usman of violating procurement rules and exposing the commission to legal and financial risks.
It also noted that he was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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In his statement, Usman thanked President Tinubu for the trust placed in him, as well as Vice President Kashim Shettima, the NAHCON board, management and staff, state pilgrims’ welfare agencies, tour operators, and Nigerian counterparts in Saudi Arabia for their support during his tenure.
He confirmed that his formal resignation, in line with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2006, had been submitted to the President, effective Monday, February 9, 2026.
Usman was appointed NAHCON chairman in 2024 and his last official engagement was receiving Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, in Abuja last week.