By Hajj chronicle Investigative Desk
A detailed review of Newspoint News Exclusive’s October report titled “Fact-check: NAHCON Chairman Pakistan’s Exposed Lies in Recent Media Interviews” reveals sweeping distortions, selective sourcing, and factual errors.
The publication accused the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, of “lying” in his recent media engagements, particularly the BBC Hausa interview of October 3, 2025.
An independent audit of Newspoint’s 16-point allegations, backed by verifiable documents, official correspondences, and stakeholder testimony, shows that the article misrepresented verifiable facts, often removing context or framing technical issues as deliberate falsehoods.
Below is a fact-based counter-analysis presenting the real situation behind each claim.
1. Alleged ₦19 Billion Reduction “Lie”
Newspoint Claim: The Chairman deceived the public about securing a ₦19 billion reduction in 2026 Hajj costs.
Reality: NAHCON had initially set fares using a cautious exchange rate (N1,550 to $1) due to currency volatility, which made the announced fare around N8.24–8.56.
N19 billion “reduction” was real – it reflects the difference between earlier cost projections (based on expected inflation and forex rates) and the lower rates NAHCON secured through bargaining compared to last years Hajj at which pilgrims paid 8.5m -8.7
Verdict: Newspoint misrepresented a verified reduction as fraud.
2. EFCC “Dodging” Narrative
Newspoint Claim: The Chairman avoided EFCC summons until compelled by the Vice President.
Reality: Professor Usman honored EFCC’s invitation and appeared voluntarily in Abuja in early October 2025. He was interviewed and returned to his office the same day on. No warrant, no evasion. NAHCON publicly reaffirmed its cooperation with all anti-corruption agencies.
Verdict: False. The Chairman did not evade inquiry.
3. Masha’ir Service “Best in 20 Years”
Newspoint Claim: The Chairman lied about achieving the best Masha’ir deal in 20 years.
Reality: Masha’ir full-package pricing only began in 2022. Since then, Nigeria’s rates dropped from SAR 4,770 in 2024 to SAR 3,900 for 2026—its lowest ever. The Chairman’s claim is substantially true given the recent baseline for full Masha’ir packages, but Newspoint took his “20 years” remark literally without context. The cost achieved is indeed one of the best deals for Nigeria in modern Hajj operations, not a “lie” as alleged
Verdict: Out of Context.
4. “Best Hajj in 19 Years” Statement
Newspoint Claim: Newspoint portrayal cherry-picked negatives and ignored the overall success of the 2025 Hajj operation. While not literally complaint-free, the operation was largely successful, and any issues were addressed. The Chairman’s positive remarks were not “lies” but optimistic reflections.
Verdict: Misrepresented. Newspoint cherry-picked isolated incidents.
5. Denial of Petitions
Newspoint Claim: He lied about not receiving petitions from staff and stakeholders.
Reality: Petitions existed but were addressed promptly through proper channels. The Vice President mediated, and NAHCON implemented directives. In truth, formal grievances were either not directly addressed to him or were addressed and resolved. His comments were not denying the existence of any internal discontent.
Verdict: False framing. No ignored petitions.
6. Staff Estacode “Overshoot”
Newspoint Claim: Before his appointment, no NAHCON chairman paid staff estacode and allowances for 30 days
Reality: They made a prideful comment about treating staff better and twisted it into a narrative of fiscal recklessness. The Chairman’s record shows improved staff welfare. The financial allegations are still under review, so portraying his statement as a lie is misleading, a former Chairman paid only 18 days.
Verdict: Misleading. Newspoint converted internal adjustments into scandal.
7. Staff Hajj Ban “Over Ten Years”
Newspoint Claim: NAHCON staff were forbidden from performing Hajj during operations for more than 10 years.
Reality: The Chairman referred to the 2023–2024 prohibition under previous administrations, which he reversed in 2025. His comment highlighted restoring staff’s right to perform Hajj, not rewriting history. The Chairman’s claim, though slightly missed in timeline, correctly addressed a significant policy shift. newspoint analysis is technically correct about the timing but misses the point of what the Chairman was conveying – thus their allegation is out of context rather than a flat falsehood
Verdict: Accurate but out of Context.
8. Tent A Controversy
Newspoint Claim: Used his contacts to secure space in a building closer to Jamarat for some dignitaries, that Nigeria lost its Tent A to Pakistan due to his negligence.
Reality: Nigeria retained Tent A slots and secured Tent A+ a premium zone with superior facilities. All VIPs were accommodated. Loss of part of Tent A resulted from Saudi administrative changes, not “negligence. Compared to 2022,2023 and 2024 Hajj. Tent A location shifted, but newspoint claim that the Chairman lied is false. He did secure Tent A+ accommodation using his influence, which is exactly what he stated – there’s no lie in that, only a mischaracterization by newspoint
Verdict: False. Newspoint ignored contractual realities.
9. English Literacy “Forgery” Story
Newspoint Claim: The Chairman lied about improving his English; aides forged his handwriting.
Reality: The Chairman has never hidden his preference for Hausa and Arabic. The newspoint article’s leap to a handwriting conspiracy is baseless and frankly absurd. It alleges that because the Chairman’s English isn’t Shakespearian, any written minutes on files under his name must have been penned by others. In reality. No investigation exists over handwriting only Newspoint’s concoction.
Verdict: Fabricated. Personal attack, not fact-check.
10. “Closest Ever” Madinah Accommodation
Newspoint Claim: Pilgrims have stayed in Markaziyya since 2015; his claim is false.
Reality: In 2025, NAHCON maintained the standard of housing pilgrims very close to the Haram, perhaps even securing more buildings or slightly closer ones, thereby improving on what was done “ever before.
Verdict: Misrepresented.
11. ₦50 Billion “Savings” Claim
Newspoint Claim: All Nigerian pilgrims got accommodation closer to the Haram than ever before in Madinah in 2025.
Reality: The Chairman’s claim of ₦50b savings is accurate when understood in context. Newspoint attempt to dismiss it is unfounded – negotiating cost reductions is exactly how NAHCON produces savings. This claim is true and reflects a benefit to pilgrims
Verdict: False. Newspoint’s logic flawed.
12. Airlines Paid in Naira
Newspoint Claim: Nothing new; Flynas was paid in Riyals.
Reality: The Chairman’s claim is true in principle – paying in naira was achieved and helped the operation. Newspoint portraying it as nothing special is out of context, ignoring the practical importance of that change.
All Nigerian carriers accepted naira for the first time without forex delays.
Verdict: Out of Context.
13. CBN Credit Card Policy
Newspoint Claim: Persuading the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to drop a policy of issuing only credit cards to pilgrims for BTA.
Reality: NAHCON initiated the objection and briefed the VP, who acted. The Chairman credited the government in his remarks. Outcome: pilgrims received cash BTA as usual. There’s no lie in saying he worked to have the policy dropped
Verdict: Misrepresented. Shared success, not deception.
14. Masha’ir Fee Reduction by 720 Riyals
Newspoint Claim: Ability to get service providers to reduce Masha’ir services by 720 Saudi riyal per pilgrim.
Reality: The Chairman led the team that included state CEOs. The decision to include them was his reform, yielding the record reduction from SAR 4,770 to SAR 4,050, and further to SAR 3,900 for 2026. The reduction of 720 SAR was real and was secured under the Chairman’s watch. The claim is true and demonstrable. Newspoint labeling of it as “Misleading” is unfounded; if anything, it’s misleading of Apex to diminish a collective success that the Chairman spearheaded.
Verdict: False. Newspoint ignored leadership context.
15. Commissioners’ “Gang Up”
Newspoint Claim: Disputes stemmed from autocracy, not envy.
Reality: Yes, there was conflict between the Chairman and some commissioners, but newspoint attribution solely to his faults is one-sided. The “gang up” comment was a subjective remark, not a factual claim to be true/false. newspoint misrepresents a resolved internal issue as if it were an outright lie by the Chairman. It’s a situation taken out of context Eight commissioners petitioned the VP over governance style. VP mediated; the Chairman complied with all directives. The conflict ended.
Verdict: Misrepresented. Issue resolved long before Newspoint’s story.
16. Rawaf Mina and Ikram Deif Recommendation
Newspoint Claim: He denied recommending both companies, yet letters exist.
Reality: Newspoint treats the Chairman’s denial as a malicious lie, he did not actually hand them the contract. His statement was aiming to reassure that he kept to due process in the end. The allegation, while based on real memos, lacks the context of how the situation evolved. Therefore, calling his claim flatly false is an oversimplification.
The Chairman’s denial referred to final implementation, not the deliberative stage.
Verdict: Out of Context. Newspoint omitted procedural nuance.
In essence, Newspoint’s so-called “fact-check” fails basic journalistic scrutiny. The article relied heavily on leaked internal memos, partisan interpretations, and rhetorical framing, rather than verifiable data.
Independent verification shows that Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman’s statements were largely accurate, consistent with official documents, and in many cases, achievements under his administration were understated or twisted to appear fraudulent.
Editorial Note
Newspoint News’ report typifies a rising trend of weaponized “fact-checking” in Nigeria’s media landscape where editorial bias masquerades as verification.
Real fact-checking demands neutrality, document examination, and cross-sourcing. Newspoint offered none of these.
For now, the record stands corrected: NAHCON’s leadership achieved measurable results, not manufactured claims.