President Bola Tinubu has relieved Jalal Arabi of his duties as the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and put forth the distinguished Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as his successor.
Arabi, a former permanent secretary, is currently under investigation by the EFCC and ICPC for suspected mismanagement of Hajj funds. Alongside him, the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, is also under scrutiny.
Professor Usman, a scholarly figure with academic credentials from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan, has been chosen for this pivotal role. His expertise in Hajj affairs is well-documented, having previously led the Kano State Pilgrims Board and overseen the successful management of the largest contingent of state pilgrims in the nation.
The nomination of Professor Usman as the new NAHCON chair is contingent upon Senate confirmation.