The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the appointment of Ambassador Ismail Yusuf Abba as the new Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), pending confirmation by the Senate. This follows the resignation of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman on Monday, 9th February 2025. The announcement of the new appointment was made today, 11th February 2026.

Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf is a retired Career Diplomat, and the immediate past Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Turkiye.  Born on 7th July, 1962 at Mubi, Adamawa State Nigeria, Yusuf graduated from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto in 1985 with an Honors degree in Political Science. He completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps [NYSC] program at the Ijebu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture in 1986, and immediately gained employment into the Foreign Service in December 1986.

He Attended several advance professional courses and rose to the rank of Director in 2013. He was subsequently appointed Ambassador extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkiye in 2021. Ambassador Yusuf played a pivotal role in accelerating strategic relationship with Turkiye focused heavily on defense, security, Trade and investment, and industrial collaboration. 

Ambassador Yusuf’s professional standing is underpinned by extensive experience spanning 35 years of documented record of service. In the Course of career trajectory, served in various capacities, including at Nigeria Diplomatic Missions in Argentina, Italy, and China.

At headquarters, he handled various roles across Directorates, including Analysis, operations, Training, Administration, as well as Pilgrims affairs where he anchored the secretariat of the Presidential Committees on Hajj [PCH] from 2002-2007. The PCH had mandate to Initiate, design and implement effective policies for smooth conduct of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by Nigerian Muslims.

The committee’s work ultimately laid the grounds and framework for the establishment and smooth takeoff of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria [NAHCON] in 2006, where Yusuf also worked as schedule secretary.  Earlier in 2005, Yusuf served as secretary of a high level Federal Government delegation to study Hajj arrangements in Malaysia and Indonesia.

This was based on the extraordinary efficiency demonstrated by both countries in Hajj matters over the years. The delegation’s findings provided impetus to the early works of NAHCON, especially, in the establishment of the Hajj Savings Scheme. Ambassador Yusuf  was also Secretary of two successive Federal Government Delegations [Amirul Hajj] in 2012, and in 2013.

From 2011- 2013, following deployment to the Presidential Villa, Ambassador Yusuf worked as Special Assistant on Presidential Matters – office of the Chief of Staff to the President. The schedule of duty included summary/analysis of memos, and assisting the COS in the management of the President’s programs.  

Ambassador Yusuf is proficient in languages Hausa, Yoruba, Igala, English and Spanish. 

NAHCON Management has welcomed the new appointment and expressed its readiness to support the new Chairman, while also calling on staff and stakeholders to extend their full cooperation and support as well. This is particularly critical at a time when preparations for the forthcoming Hajj season are at an advanced stage.