President Bola Tinubu has officially nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf to take over as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). This announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, via a press statement. The nomination comes after the resignation of Professor Abdullahi Usman, who had held the position for about 14 months.

The confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf’s appointment requires approval from the Nigerian Senate, following the guidelines outlined in Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act. The President has also reached out to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the prompt confirmation of this nomination, demonstrating the administration's intent to proceed swiftly with the appointment to ensure leadership continuity at NAHCON.

Ambassador Yusuf has a background in diplomacy and was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Türkiye from 2021 to 2024. His experience in international relations and governance will be crucial in overseeing the operations of NAHCON, the federal agency responsible for managing Hajj and Umrah activities in Nigeria, including the licensing and coordination of related operations. This appointment is significant as it indicates the government's commitment to addressing the needs and management of Nigerian pilgrims undertaking Hajj and Umrah in the future.