President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The approval of the appointment, conveyed in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was announced on Wednesday by the Presidential Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
In the statement, the president urged the Senate to expedite consideration and confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf’s nomination in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006.
The appointment follows the resignation of the former chairman of the commission, Professor Abdullahi Usman, who stepped down this week after about 14 months in office.
Ambassador Yusuf is a seasoned career diplomat with extensive experience in international relations and public service.
He served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye between 2021 and 2024, where he played a key role in strengthening bilateral ties between both countries.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Ambassador Yusuf’s diplomatic pedigree and administrative competence would strengthen institutional leadership at NAHCON and enhance the efficiency of Nigeria’s Hajj operations.
The statement emphasised the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to reforms that will improve service delivery to Nigerian pilgrims and reinforce transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s Hajj affairs.
Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf’s appointment as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is subject to confirmation by the Senate.