Tinubu sacks NAHCON chairman Arabi, names Abdullahi Usman as replacement

Tinubu sacks NAHCON chairman Arabi, names Abdullahi Usman as replacement 

President Bola Tinubu has sacked Jalal Arabi as executive chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

He also appointed Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman as new chairman of the commission.

Arabi facing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of mismanaging N90bn Hajj intervention fund was detained on August 16, 2024.

He was appointed chairman of NAHCON by President Tinubu in October 2023.

The appointment of Usman is contained in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale on Monday.

The statement said the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Ngelale stated that President Tinubu expected the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.

Professor Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from two Islamic centres of excellence — the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.

He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board, and successfully superintended the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.