President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, replacing Jalal Arabi, who was appointed just last year.
News About Nigeria reports that the announcement was made by the President’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement released on Monday.
Arabi’s sack comes amid an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of N90bn in Hajj subsidies.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Arabi and another official, Abdullahi Kontagora, in connection with the alleged fraud.
A substantial sum, SR314,098, was recovered from Arabi and other senior officials.
The EFCC claimed that Arabi and others fraudulently received payments above the required operational expenses.
In contrast, the new appointee, Professor Abdullahi Usman, is a distinguished scholar with qualifications from renowned Islamic centers of excellence.
He has a strong background in Hajj operations, having successfully managed the Kano State Pilgrims Board and the largest state pilgrims’ contingent.
The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
Meanwhile, the Presidency described the new NAHCON Chief, Usman, as “a renowned scholar with qualifications from two Islamic centres of excellence — the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.”
“He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board, and successfully superintended the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country,” it added.
Ngelale stated that the President expects Usman to carry out his responsibilities with utmost integrity, transparency, and loyalty to the country.
This change in leadership at NAHCON comes as the government aims to restore integrity and proper management to the commission responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s Hajj operations.
