Professor Abdullahi Usman, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria's chairman, has stepped down.

Although the specific reasons are still unknown, Ahmad Mu'azu, his Technical Assistant on Media, confirmed the development to The PUNCH on Tuesday.

"Yes, he has resigned, but I have yet to hear his reasons for doing so. He only sent us a brief message last night (Monday night) to let us know that he was leaving. Mu'azu said, "I believe appropriate communication will be carried out this morning."

The resignation follows rumours that Usman's dismissal due to suspected misconduct and abuses was demanded by the NAHCON board in a petition to President Bola Tinubu.

The board accused Usman of financial indiscipline, lack of transparency, and regularly granting contracts and spending funds without board consent, exceeding budgetary restrictions, in a petition titled "Vote of No Confidence in the Chairman," which was signed by 11 board members on January 19, 2026.

The board declared that the commission's credibility, stability, and operational efficacy had been jeopardised by ongoing leadership shortcomings.

Usman's final formal engagement before to his resignation occurred last week, when he hosted Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, in Abuja.

In 2024, President Tinubu chose Professor Abdullahi Usman as NAHCON chairman.