The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the substantive Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu in August, this year.
The confirmation of Usman was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Abubakar Bello (APC Niger North).
Presenting the committee report, Senator Bello, who was the immediate past governor of Niger State, said that Usman merited being appointed to head the Hajj commission.
When put to voice vote by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, majority of the lawmakers expressed their satisfaction on the report and the nominee’s appointment was accordingly confirmed by the Red Chamber.
President Tinubu nominated Usman for the position on August 19, 2024, through a statement by his former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale after which he transmitted the request in a letter to the Senate for confirmation.
According to the statement, Usman is a renowned scholar and well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the chairman of Kano State Pilgrim’s Board, and successfully superintendent the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.
The new chairman had in a BBC and DCL Hausa interview on Wednesday promised that the commission under his leadership was already working round the clock to ensure there is a reduction in the amount intending pilgrims would pay for the 2025 Hajj operations.
He said: “Firstly, this is not our hope, and this is not what we want to happen. There has not been any announcement that it will happen. What we are doing, and based on the advice we are given and getting, we are working to ensure that it (the fare) did not get there, and we are optimistic and hopeful it will not get there, God willing.
“Our hope is to even have a reduction from what was paid last year, and this is what we are working round the clock to achieve. And we are optimistic that we will achieve this with Allah’s help.”