Tinubu sacks Arabi as NAHCON’s chairman, names replacement

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), replacing Jalal Arabi, who was appointed last October.

The announcement was made on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement titled “President Tinubu Appoints Chairman of National Hajj Commission.”

Usman’s appointment follows an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into his predecessor, Arabi, for allegedly mismanaging Hajj subsidies totalling N90 billion.

On August 16, the EFCC detained Arabi and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, over allegations of illegal withdrawals and the mismanagement of the 2024 Hajj intervention fund.

The anti-graft agency revealed that Arabi had fraudulently overpaid himself and other officials beyond the necessary operational costs from the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.

A total of SR314,098 was reportedly recovered from Arabi and other ranking officials.

The Presidency described Professor Usman as “a renowned scholar with qualifications from two Islamic centres of excellence — the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.”

He is also experienced in Hajj operations, having previously served as the Chairman of the Kano State Pilgrims Board, where he managed the largest quota of state pilgrims in Nigeria.

Usman’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation, and President Tinubu expects him to “discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.”