The Board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has written a strongly worded letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, passing a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, and unanimously recommending his immediate removal from office.
In the letter, the Board accused the NAHCON Chairman of actions and leadership failures that it said have crippled the operations of the Commission and placed Nigeria’s 2026 Hajj preparations in serious jeopardy. According to the Board, unless urgent corrective steps are taken, the country risks an “imminent collapse” of its Hajj operations for the 2026 pilgrimage.
The Board alleged that Professor Usman’s tenure has been characterised by persistent administrative bottlenecks, poor coordination, and decisions taken without due consultation with statutory Board members. It claimed these issues have weakened institutional cohesion within NAHCON and eroded confidence among key stakeholders, including state pilgrims’ welfare boards and international partners.
In a unanimous resolution, the Board stated that it could no longer effectively work with the Chairman, citing what it described as a breakdown of trust, transparency, and collective decision-making. The members warned that the current leadership crisis has stalled critical planning timelines required for successful Hajj operations, particularly early engagements with Saudi authorities, service providers, and logistics partners.
“The Commission is drifting at a dangerous pace,” the Board reportedly noted, stressing that delays in planning, contracting, and coordination could expose Nigerian pilgrims to unnecessary hardship and reputational damage at the international level.
The Board urged President Tinubu to intervene decisively in the interest of Nigerian pilgrims and the integrity of the country’s Hajj administration system. It emphasised that its recommendation for removal was taken after exhaustive deliberations and was driven solely by concern for the sustainability and credibility of NAHCON.
As of the time of filing this report, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Presidency is also yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
