President Bola Ahmed 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 confirmation by the Senate.
The nomination was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, who said the appointment is in accordance with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2026.
President Tinubu has forwarded a letter to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, seeking the expeditious confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned earlier this week after about 14 months in office.
Ambassador Yusuf is a seasoned Nigerian career diplomat who served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024. During his tenure, he played a key role in strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Türkiye.
If confirmed, he will lead NAHCON at a crucial period as preparations gather momentum for forthcoming Hajj operations.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria is responsible for regulating and supervising Hajj and Umrah activities for Nigerian pilgrims.
