NAHCON has served as the administrator of Nigeria’s religious diplomacy. However, until the appointment of the current Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, NAHCON suffered from several visible inefficiencies, including disorganised pilgrimage logistics, allegations of corruption, political interference, and poor logistical coordination, all of which led pilgrims to conclude their journeys with dissatisfaction.
Many were, and still are, frustrated by NAHCON’s leadership. Disregarding the trust placed in them, the leadership implemented pilgrimage programmes marked by disorganised airlifts, contract overpricing, and opaque financial management. As a result, discontent extended to clerics, journalists, and pilgrims’ welfare organisations.
It was in this context that the Tinubu administration, worthy of considerable trust, appointed Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, an accomplished reformist scholar, technocrat, and administrator, to rescue the Commission and ensure its integration within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda on Transparency and Institutional Accountability.
Under Pakistan’s leadership, NAHCON has experienced a quiet transformation.
According to internal Commission records and verified public data, the 2025 Hajj exercise is the most successful in Nigeria’s history.
Some of the key achievements in the last Hajj exercise include:
• Over 52,000 Nigerian pilgrims successfully coordinated and airlifted to Saudi Arabia under improved verification and screening systems;
• ₦24 billion Presidential intervention to settle outstanding debts owed to 2023 Hajj airlines, saving local carriers from collapse;
• Refund of ₦5.3 billion to State Pilgrim Welfare Boards for services not provided during the 2023 Hajj, restoring confidence and integrity in the process;
• Expansion of the Hajj Savings Scheme through partnerships with additional banks, enabling intending pilgrims to plan and save with dignity;
• Enhanced cooperation with Saudi authorities for improved feeding, medical care, transport, and accommodation facilities;
• Seamless and safe airlifts despite logistical challenges, reflecting superior planning and coordination.
Mr. Sale combined administrative and moral leadership. He set a new standard for the Commission by refusing to condone corruption and political interference. As a 2025 Hajj pilgrim, I can testify to the remarkable improvements.
The integration of professionalism into Hajj operations brought a new atmosphere compared to previous years.
Unfortunately, these accomplishments have provoked envy and antagonism, both from within and outside the government. An online media outlet recently published reckless allegations against the NAHCON Chairman, claiming that he had instigated assaults against the Vice President and was under investigation for certain purported offences.
However, investigations and official documents show that the report was politically motivated, allegedly funded by individuals linked to a high-ranking political office and intended to control the operations of NAHCON for personal interests.
According to the Commission’s official response, the publication was part of an orchestrated and politically motivated smear campaign to undermine Professor Pakistan, aimed at protecting his own interests from illegal demands, including unauthorised contract requisitions for the Masha’ir operations.
Additionally, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not been provided with any evidence to warrant an indictment against the Chairman. On the contrary, he has supplied the agency with all requested documents and has attended every meeting to which he has been invited; a situation that the politically motivated and funded media smear campaigns have falsely targeted.
Instead of evidence-based criticism, Nigerians have witnessed an orchestrated campaign of misinformation aimed at undermining reform and reasserting political control over NAHCON’s strategic processes.
In light of this, I am left with nothing but to ask the following questions, which, unfortunately, remain unanswered:
• Would a globally respected Islamic scholar compromise his integrity for corrupt patronage?
• Can a man who transparently refunded billions of naira to states suddenly be guilty of mismanagement?
• And who benefits from destabilizing an institution that has finally regained the trust of Nigerian pilgrims?
While there are unverified reports of political motivations within the Vice President’s office regarding contract disputes, such allegations remain speculative. However, the timing and coordination of the attacks raise legitimate questions about their orchestration and intent.
It appears that the Chairman’s uncompromising stance on political interference has caused discontent. A smear campaign has emerged because the Chairman does not distribute ‘illegal’contract allocations, free Hajj seats, or other personal benefits.
NAHCON’s statement further exposes the deeper contours of a persistent strategy that not only jeopardises the autonomy of the institution but also threatens the operational success of the Hajj. If not addressed, this could undermine the volatile gains achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda and severely impact the legacy of the President’s reforms.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must therefore be urged to defend the integrity of his reform vision. The unprecedented success of the 2025 Hajj, achieved under his leadership, is a testament to the effectiveness of merit-based appointments and institutional autonomy.
Allowing a concerned and selfish group to use the media and civil service as weapons against the Chairman of NAHCON would not only destroy the progress made so far but also damage the positive perception of the people about the accountability of the government.
The pilgrims of Nigeria, along with journalists and civil society, demand nothing less than absolute equity and justice. For this reason, the President should protect NAHCON and ensure that due process is followed in the prosecution of offenders, as well as prevent any form of political interference that seeks to undermine the original powers of the Commission.
Attacks on the Chairman target more than just an individual; they aim to undermine the spirit of institutional reform. Beneath the media clamour lies a deeper contest of values:
integrity versus impunity, transparency versus transactional politics.
The question now remains: Who truly fears a reformed NAHCON?
As Nigeria prepares for the 2026 Hajj, the focus should remain on improving the pilgrims’ experience, not on creating distractions to destroy what has finally begun to work.
Let us defend truth, reward integrity, and allow the National Hajj Commission to serve its divine purpose, free from manipulation and true to the Renewed Hope of a better Nigeria.
Abdulganiu Oladipo, PhD
(Writes from Osun)