It’s not every day that a decades-old administrative jinx gets broken with the quiet precision of a scalpel. But that’s exactly what just happened in the Hajj space—and surprisingly, not many are asking the right question: Who will now thank the Chairman of NAHCON?
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For years, Nigerian pilgrims have wrestled with the anxiety of accessing their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for Hajj—a lifeline that allows them to navigate the holy lands with dignity and ease. In this year’s build-up to the 2025 Hajj, there was almost an eruption when the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy threatened to replace the familiar, tangible BTA with an ATM-bound, urban-centric alternative.
Now, let’s get real: most Nigerian pilgrims are not fintech-savvy Lagosians. They are our uncles, aunts, and parents from Sokoto, Borno, Osun, and Enugu—people who think “token” is a Hausa word for kola nut. Dropping them in Madinah with nothing but a card and a heatwave is akin to a cruel experiment.
Enter Prof. Abdullahi Usman, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). A man whose academic and clerical résumé is impressive, but who, until now, has not received enough credit for navigating political minefields. In a time of mounting pressure and near silence from many corners, it was his quiet diplomacy and lobbying through the office of the Vice President that led to the CBN finally approving cash-based BTA for the 2025 Hajj. A move that, frankly, deserves more than a press release.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their intervention—and rightly so. But here’s the flip side: it’s easy to thank power. Who will thank the person who saw this battle through, who wore the backlash, and who brokered an outcome behind the scenes while others watched?
Let’s be honest, the NAHCON Chairman has had a rough time. His tenure has been dotted with friction—from internal staff turbulence to recent criticism from even his supervisory office. But this latest episode proves that even amid administrative drama, he is capable of doing the job—and doing it well.
Beyond the BTA issue, his commissioning of the advance medical team shows foresight. Sending them ahead of the first batch of pilgrims is not just protocol—it’s leadership. He’s ensuring clinics in Makkah and Madinah are stocked, staffed, and ready. That’s more than bureaucracy; that’s care.
Let’s be blunt—there are still areas where the Commission needs help. Public relations, for one, has not been its strongest suit. But even then, leadership is not about perfection; it’s about progress, pressure, and the will to do better with each test.
So again, I ask: Who will now thank the Chairman?
If we can clap for politicians who flag off bridges that never get completed, surely we can recognize the man who quietly pulled pilgrims out of a looming crisis.
Because when the pilgrims get to Madinah this year and withdraw riyals in crisp cash instead of wandering in search of an ATM, they may never know whom to thank. But we do.
And we should say it loudly—thank you, Mr. Chairman.