In a seismic shake-up, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, effectively ousting Jalal Arabi, who initially took the role just last October.
The announcement was announced by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, via a statement released on Monday under the headline ‘President Tinubu appoints chairman of National Hajj Commission.’
Usman’s ascension comes against the backdrop of a storm of controversy surrounding his predecessor, Arabi, who is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly mismanaging a staggering N90bn in Hajj subsidies.
On August 16, the EFCC revealed the detention of Arabi and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, amid allegations of illicit withdrawals and the gross misallocation of the colossal N90bn 2024 Hajj intervention fund. Sources say that SR314,098 has been recovered from Arabi and other high-ranking officials, painting a damning picture of corruption.
The anti-graft agency’s findings indicate that Arabi surreptitiously overcompensated himself and others far beyond necessary operational costs, plunging the subsidy system into a bedlam of deceit. In stark contrast, the Presidency lauds the newly appointed NAHCON Chief, Usman, as “a preeminent scholar” adorned with qualifications from prestigious Islamic institutions — the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.
“He possesses a robust foundation in Hajj operations, having masterminded the Kano State Pilgrims Board and effectively managing the largest quota of state pilgrims in the nation,” it proclaimed. However, this appointment awaits the Senate’s confirmation.
Ngelale emphasized that the President harbors high hopes for the new Chairman of NAHCON, expecting him to “execute his duties with unwavering integrity, transparency, and an unyielding commitment to the nation.”
