NAHCON Chairman Abdullahi Pakistan Resigns Amid Hajj Exercise Controversies
Resignation follows allegations of maladministration, delays in pilgrims’ documentation
By Rimawaglobalnews Correspondent In Abuja
The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Sheikh Abdullahi Pakistan, has resigned from office, effective late Monday night, February 9, 2026.
Sources confirmed that the resignation came amid mounting concerns over the handling of the 2026 Hajj operations, particularly delays in the processing and capture of pilgrims’ documentation.
Sheikh Pakistan, who was appointed in 2024 to succeed Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, had in recent months faced allegations bordering on incompetence, maladministration, and poor operational coordination within the commission.
During his tenure, stakeholders in the Hajj sector repeatedly raised alarm over what they described as sluggish administrative processes that threatened the participation of thousands of intending pilgrims in this year’s pilgrimage.
A senior NAHCON official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the situation worsened after Saudi Arabian authorities fixed Monday, February 9, 2026, as the deadline for capturing pilgrims’ data.
“By the deadline, most pilgrims, medical teams, and operational staff had not been captured due to delays in finalising documentation under the chairman’s leadership,” the source said.
The delay, according to insiders, left many state pilgrims’ welfare boards and intending pilgrims in a state of uncertainty, sparking intense pressure on the commission’s leadership.
As of the time of filing this report, NAHCON has yet to issue an official statement announcing Sheikh Pakistan’s resignation or naming an acting chairman to oversee the commission’s affairs.
The development has continued to generate reactions across the Hajj industry, with stakeholders calling on relevant authorities to urgently stabilise the commission to safeguard Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Hajj.
