PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The development was contained in a press statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Professor Usman’s appointment is coming amid a probe of the former boss of the agency, Jalal Arabi, and the Commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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 the Kano State Pilgrims Board and successfully superintended the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.
It will be recalled that the erstwhile boss of the Commission, Jalal Arabi, and secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, are currently in the custody of the EFCC over the alleged mismanagement of the N90bn 2024 Hajj subsidy.
It has also been gathered that a total of SR314,098 has been recovered from the ex-NAHCON boss and other ranking officials.
The EFCC said its investigation revealed that from the N90bn Hajj subsidy, Arabi fraudulently overpaid himself and others the necessary operational cost.
Also according to a document prepared by the anti-graft agency, the approved 2024 Hajj operational cost for the Chairman/CEO, Commissioners, Secretary and Directors/Chief of Staff in the 2024 budget are stipulated as $4,250, $12,750, $3,825 and $15,300, respectively.
The EFCC, however, alleged that: “The chairman fraudulently overpaid himself, the commissioners, secretary and directors for the 2024 hajj operational cost.
Eighteen-Eleven Media