NAHCON Chairman Resigns Amid Board Petition, Alleged Misconduct

By Aremu Toyeebaht

Professor Abdullahi Usman has resigned as Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), ending his tenure at the helm of the federal pilgrimage agency amid unresolved internal disagreements within the commission.

The resignation, confirmed on Tuesday, comes against the backdrop of a formal petition by the NAHCON board to President Bola Tinubu, seeking Usman’s removal over allegations of misconduct. No official reason has, however, been given for his decision to step aside.

Ahmad Mu’azu, Technical Assistant (Media) to the chairman, said Usman notified his team of the resignation late Monday but offered no explanation.

“Yes, he has resigned, but I am still waiting for him to communicate his reasons, because he just sent a one-line message to us last night (Monday night), informing us of his resignation. I think proper communication will be done this morning,” Mu’azu said.

Multiple sources said the development followed a vote of no confidence passed by members of the NAHCON board after what they described as sustained concerns over the chairman’s leadership style and administrative decisions.

Those concerns were detailed in a petition dated January 19, 2026, and signed by 11 board members. The document, titled Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, accused Usman of financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and authorising expenditures and contract awards without board approval, allegedly in excess of budgetary provisions.

The board said its action was taken after “prolonged internal observations and repeated efforts at corrective engagement,” which it claimed failed to resolve issues it said had affected the commission’s credibility, stability, and operational effectiveness.

Despite the internal crisis, Usman continued to perform official functions until his resignation. His last known public engagement was last week in Abuja, where he received Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.