President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The appointment, announced by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, is subject to Senate confirmation as stipulated in Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2006.
Ambassador Yusuf is a seasoned diplomat and public administrator with extensive experience in international relations. 
He previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024, where he strengthened diplomatic relations, economic cooperation, and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and Türkiye.
As the new NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Yusuf will oversee the coordination and regulation of Nigeria’s Hajj operations, including managing the logistics and operations, ensuring the welfare and well-being of Nigerian pilgrims, and building and maintaining relationships with Saudi authorities to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage experience
The presidency has expressed confidence that Ambassador Yusuf’s leadership will contribute to more efficient management of Hajj operations and improved welfare for pilgrims, aligning with the administration’s reform agenda. He faces the challenge of filling the leadership vacuum created by the resignation of Professor Abdullahi Usman, who stepped down as NAHCON chairman on Monday.
