The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has resigned from office.

His resignation, which took effect on Monday, was confirmed to The Guardian by his Technical Assistant, Ahmed Muazu, on Tuesday morning. No official reason was given for the decision.

Usman, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in 2024, supervised his first Hajj operations in 2025, marking his debut in managing Nigeria’s Hajj affairs at the national level.

He was appointed to replace Jalal Arabi, who was removed from office while under investigation over the alleged misappropriation of funds released for the 2024 Hajj.

However, Usman’s relatively brief tenure was plagued by persistent internal disputes and allegations bordering on financial management and administrative conduct during the 2025 Hajj exercise. The issues triggered tension within the commission and attracted public scrutiny.

The internal crisis reached a climax in January 2026 when several NAHCON commissioners reportedly submitted a petition to President Tinubu, passing a vote of no confidence in the chairman.

In the petition dated January 19, the commissioners accused Usman of financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, breach of procurement procedures, and actions allegedly inconsistent with the commission’s financial regulations.

They further alleged that some contracts were awarded without the mandatory “No Objection Certificate” from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and that certain expenditures were made without board approval.

The petition also referenced reports that the chairman was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the commissioners, the situation created internal disaffection within NAHCON and posed a risk to preparations for the 2026 Hajj operations.

The crisis drew the attention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who convened a meeting with key stakeholders in an effort to reconcile aggrieved parties and restore stability within the commission.

Earlier reports had also highlighted allegations of administrative lapses during the 2025 Hajj, including claims that thousands of paid bed spaces in Mina, Saudi Arabia, were left unused, with refund requests allegedly not processed within the stipulated period. The chairman had dismissed the allegations, describing them as products of internal grievances.

Usman’s resignation introduces fresh uncertainty into the leadership of NAHCON at a critical time, as preparations for the 2026 Hajj gather momentum.