Amid recent attempts to tarnish his reputation, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, remains steadfast in his commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in Hajj operations.
Reacting to a wave of misinformation aimed at discrediting his leadership, Kano and Jigawa Coordinator of Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team, Nura Ahmad, reaffirmed that “No amount of distractions will make the NAHCON Chairman deviate from his core mission of ensuring transparency and accountability in Hajj operations.”
In recent weeks, a series of unfounded allegations have surfaced, falsely claiming that the NAHCON Chairman unilaterally revoked the contract between the Commission and Saudi service providers, thereby jeopardizing Nigerian pilgrims’ participation in the 2025 Hajj. These claims have been widely debunked by NAHCON and credible Hajj stakeholders, who have confirmed that all agreements remain intact and that preparations for the pilgrimage are progressing smoothly.
Professor Usman has strongly denied these accusations, particularly the claims made by the Forum of Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards that he single-handedly canceled the service providers’ contract without consulting them.
He challenged those making the allegations to provide concrete evidence to support their claims, adding that no critical decision regarding Hajj operations is made without consulting the forum’s leadership. “If they have any proof, they should present it to the public. NAHCON operates with transparency, and all decisions regarding service providers follow due process,” he stated this in an audio interview with DCL Hausa.
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Providing an update on his ongoing trip to Saudi Arabia, Professor Usman revealed that he has held a meeting with his Makkah staff, during which they briefed him on key issues concerning this year’s Hajj arrangements. “We have another gathering with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. We are here to clarify contradicting issues with regard to service providers. We cannot just fold our arms and allow our efforts to be in vain,” he emphasized
The Chairman further reassured intending pilgrims and stakeholders that all contractual agreements remain intact and that NAHCON’s decisions are always in the best interest of Nigerian pilgrims. “Our focus remains on ensuring that Nigerian pilgrims receive the best possible services at the most reasonable cost. We will not be distracted by baseless accusations meant to derail our mission,” he emphasized.
Patriotic Nigerians in the welfare of Pilgrims, including the Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team (NHMST), have called on the public to disregard the misinformation, describing it as an orchestrated attempt by detractors to create unnecessary panic within the Hajj sector. “These false narratives are the handiwork of individuals seeking to exploit the system for personal gain,” NHMST National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta, noted in a recent statement.
Despite these challenges, NAHCON remains committed to its mandate of facilitating a seamless and efficient Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims. The Commission has assured all stakeholders that official updates regarding the 2025 Hajj will continue to be shared through its verified channels.
As preparations continue, stakeholders have urged unity and focus on the collective goal of improving Nigeria’s Hajj operations rather than allowing distractions to derail progress.