President Bola Tinubu has nominated seasoned diplomat Amb. Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON)
Tinubu Taps Veteran Diplomat Amb. Ismail Abba Yusuf as New NAHCON Chairman/CEO
President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, a highly experienced Nigerian career diplomat, as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The appointment, subject to confirmation by the Senate as required under Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006, was announced in a statement issued Wednesday, February 11, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu has formally transmitted a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio requesting the expeditious screening and confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to fill the vacancy left by Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned this week after serving for approximately 14 months.
Ambassador Yusuf brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to the role. He served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024, where he represented the country with distinction in one of Nigeria’s key bilateral relationships.
The nomination comes at a critical time for NAHCON, which oversees the organization and management of the annual Hajj pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims, a process that involves coordination with Saudi authorities, logistics, welfare, and financial oversight for thousands of pilgrims.
With his extensive diplomatic background, Ambassador Yusuf is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s engagement with Saudi Arabia on Hajj matters, improve operational efficiency, and ensure smoother pilgrim experiences in the coming years.
The Senate is expected to take up the confirmation process in the coming days. If approved, Ambassador Yusuf will assume leadership of NAHCON immediately. Read More
){kind=link}