The Presidency has directed the newly-appointed Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, to assume office in an acting capacity pending his screening and confirmation by the Senate.
The directive to this effect was given by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shetima, in a letter addressed to Prof. Usman, dated September 5, 2024, and signed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.
The letter directing Usman’s assumption of office, titled “Resumption of office in Ag Capacity,” reads in part, “I am directed by His Excellency, Senator Shetima GCON, the Vice President, to convey the approval of your resumption of office as Chairman National Hajj Commission in an Acting Capacity with immediate effect pending confirmation by the senate after resumption from recess.”
Usman, a distinguished scholar, was appointed as NAHCON Executive Chairman by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, August 19, following the removal from office of the immediate past Chairman/CEO, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi.
Arabi’s removal came on the heels of financial malfeasance that followed the 2024 Hajj exercise, particularly on the N90 billion subsidy approved for Nigerian pilgrims, leading to his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the recovery of some amount of money from him.
The new Executive Chairman has yet to resume his new position, promoting stakeholders in Nigeria’s Hajj industry to call for his expeditious screening and confirmation by the Senate, considering the timeline contained in the 2025 Hajj calendar released by the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The National Coordinator, Independent Hajj Reporters, Muhammed Ibrahim, had Wednesday, while welcoming guests to the 2024 Hajj Lectures and Awards of the civil society organisation, said that Nigeria was running against time in view of the 2025 Hajj calendar released by the Saudis and urged the Senate to resume at the committee level to screen and confirm Professor Usman.
“According to the Saudi Arabian 2025 Hajj calendar, we have 134 days to the commencement of pretty much ceasing and issuance of Hajj visas from today (last Wednesday).
“The first set of 2025 Hajj pilgrims will arrive in Saudi Arabia on the 29th of April, 2025, which is approximately 237 days from today (last Wednesday). The day of Arafat is projected to be on 5th June, which is 273 days from today (last Wednesday).
“More importantly, the commencement of contracts with Saudi-based service providers in service packages, choice and reservation of spaces in Mina begins on 23rd October 2024, less than 30 days from now,” Muhammed said.
He then expressed worries that Nigeria was yet to begin registration of intending pilgrims at a time when other Hajj-participating countries had gone far in their registration processes.
According to him, “It is worrisome that Nigeria is yet to begin pilgrims’ registration even when other Hajj participating countries that operate three- to five-year Hajj rolling plan have already gone far in registration of intending pilgrims.
“Given the above, Independent Hajj Reporters would like to use this opportunity to appeal to the Senate to convene an emergency meeting at the committee level to screen and possibly clear the newly appointed NAHCON Chairman to save the industry from eating away valuable time and kick-start the implementation of the 2025 Hajj calendar. The time is now. ”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
