National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) chairman Abdullahi Usman has resigned from office.
The development was confirmed late on Monday by Ahmed Muazu, his media assistant.
No official reason was given for the resignation as of the time of filing this report.
Mr Usman, a professor, was appointed NAHCON chairman by President Bola Tinubu in August 2024 following the removal of Jalal Arabi.
Mr Arabi was sacked while under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over the alleged mismanagement of funds released for the 2024 Hajj.
Usman oversaw his first Hajj operations in 2025, marking his first involvement in managing Nigeria’s pilgrimage affairs at the national level.
His tenure coincided with internal disputes within the commission, including allegations of financial mismanagement linked to the 2025 Hajj exercise.
These claims were not resolved publicly.
In January, some NAHCON commissioners reportedly submitted a petition to President Tinubu, expressing a vote of no confidence in Usman and citing leadership and administrative concerns.
The dispute prompted Vice President Kashim Shettima to meet with NAHCON stakeholders in an effort to address the crisis.
Sources familiar with the matter said Usman tendered his resignation on Monday night.
Reports indicated that the decision followed personal reflection and was not officially attributed to pressure from the board or external authorities.
Neither NAHCON nor the federal government has issued a formal statement on the resignation.
Before his appointment, Abdullahi Usman worked in academia and later transitioned into public service.
As NAHCON chairman and chief executive, he was responsible for coordinating Nigeria’s Hajj operations, including engagement with Saudi authorities, supervision of state pilgrim boards and management of federal support for pilgrims.
His resignation comes months before preparations for the 2026 Hajj are expected to intensify, leaving uncertainty over leadership at the commission.
