Religion
Nigeria’s Vice President Shettima Tells NAHCON Chairman Saleh-Usman To Stop Running Commission Like Sole Administrator
Shettima issued the warning in an official communique obtained by Daily Nigerian following serious allegations of misconduct and violations within the commission.
Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has lambasted the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh-Usman, for allegedly running the affairs of Nigerian pilgrims as though he were a Sole Administrator.
Shettima issued the warning in an official communique obtained by Daily Nigerian following serious allegations of misconduct and violations within the commission.
The letter, dated March 17, 2025, and signed by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, pointed out several issues, including violations of procurement processes, misconduct, sidelining of board members, and the illegal appointment of aides.
Shettima’s letter, titled ‘Re-Deliberate Exclusion from the Exercise of Oversight Functions,’ expressed strong concern over the NAHCON chairman’s approach.
Shettima condemned Usman’s method of appointing committees to make decisions on behalf of the board, which he claimed violated the commission’s act.
“The act does not envisage a sole administrator role and each member has a responsibility to the zone or entity he or she represents, especially with regards all decisions relating to pilgrims’ welfare,” Shettima wrote.
The Vice President also noted that the board members had raised these concerns during a meeting on February 4, 2025, in which Usman reportedly acknowledged the lapses but failed to address them.
“Their letter states that they raised these issues at a meeting where the chairman acknowledged and apologised for the lapses but apparently did nothing to address them going forward,” he stated.
In the letter, Shettima reminded Usman of the provisions of the NAHCON Act, highlighting that all reference to the powers and regulatory responsibilities of the commission referred to the commission as a whole, not just the chairman.
He further warned Usman to ensure that board members were treated according to the act to avoid rendering them redundant.
“All major decisions of the commission must be in compliance with the law,” Shettima added.
This stern warning came after a petition from NAHCON’s board members, dated March 13, 2025, accusing Usman of deliberately excluding them from their statutory oversight responsibilities.
The petition, titled “Deliberate exclusion from the oversight functions,” was signed by eight non-permanent commissioners representing the six geo-political zones and other key groups, such as the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI).
Additionally, the Association of Senior Civil Servants in Nigeria raised concerns over alleged favouritism in the placement of pool officers and the unfair treatment of commission workers.
Their letter, dated March 3, 2025, addressed to NAHCON’s executive council and board, accused the commission of administrative lapses.
In a separate communication, Shettima also objected to Usman’s decision to rehire former or external staff on a contract basis, urging him to reverse such decisions to avoid creating redundancy within the commission.
“His Excellency the Vice President has expressed a strong objection to rehiring former staff of the commission on contract basis or engaging external civil servants to the detriment of your staff,” the letter stated.
Shettima also highlighted a breach of State House protocol in handling official correspondence, stressing that hand-delivering letters directly to personnel violated established procedures.
“Hand carrying official correspondence and passing, same to individual personnel is a flagrant breach of State House external mail protocol and will not be tolerated,” the letter concluded.
Staff members within the commission voiced their approval of Shettima’s intervention, with one official commenting, “We are happy with Vice President Shettima’s intervention. It is long overdue.”
However, other staff members criticised Usman’s actions, labelling his leadership as “toxic” and calling for his removal to prevent further harm to the 2025 Hajj operations.
In addition to these concerns, allegations surfaced that Usman had appointed family members to key positions within the commission, including his son Aliyu as a personal assistant, his brother Surajo as a special adviser, and his nephew Abdulmalik Diggi as special adviser and deputy director of accounts.
Some officials called for the redeployment of Abubakar, Usman’s protective detail, who was accused of interfering in the commission’s operations instead of focusing on security.
-Sahara reporters
Residents said the protest was their desperate attempt to draw the attention of the Kwara State Government and security agencies to the worsening security crisis in the community.
Residents of Idofin Odo Ashe community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State have staged a protest over relentless attacks, killings and kidnappings by terrorists who have reportedly invaded the community, forcing many residents to abandon their homes.
The protest, which involved elderly women, youths and other residents of the community, was held amid growing fear and frustration as locals say insecurity has worsened over the past eight months with little or no intervention from authorities.
During the protest, residents marched through parts of the community carrying placards with various inscriptions highlighting their plight and calling on the government to urgently intervene before the town becomes completely deserted.
Some of the placards read: “End Insecurity in Idofin Odo Ashe, We Sleep In Fear Everyday,” “Idofin Odo Ashe Needs Security, Do Not Abandon Rural Communities,” “We Need Peace, Government of Kwara State Come To Our Aid, Idofin Odo Ashe Is Bleeding,” and “Innocent Souls Are Brutally Murdered In Idofin Odo Ashe, Come To Our Aid.”
Residents said the protest was their desperate attempt to draw the attention of the Kwara State Government and security agencies to the worsening security crisis in the community.
According to eyewitnesses, elderly women and young people in large numbers trooped out to express their anger and fear, lamenting that bandits and kidnappers now operate freely in the area.
One elderly woman who spoke during the protest appealed directly to the state government for urgent intervention, saying the community was gradually becoming deserted due to persistent attacks.
“Kwara State Government, please help us. Our community is becoming deserted,” she cried. “People are leaving Idofin Odo Ashe because bandits killed a young man. We are living in fear every day.”
She said many families had already fled the town while others were preparing to leave if the situation continued.
Another protester who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday said kidnappers had been operating almost daily in the community for about eight months, attacking residents without resistance.
The protester said, “We citizens are calling on the Government of Kwara State and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to help stop the terrorists and the daily killings and kidnappings of our people.”
He added that the situation had reached a dangerous level as criminals were now operating freely.
“Kidnappers strike Idofin Odo Ashe almost every day. For about eight months now, they have been killing and kidnapping people freely,” the protester said.
“The citizens are running away from the town. The situation is very pathetic.”
Residents warned that if urgent action is not taken by the government and security agencies, Idofin Odo Ashe and neighbouring communities could soon become completely deserted as people continue to flee for safety.
They called on the Kwara State Government and federal security authorities to immediately deploy adequate security personnel to the community and surrounding areas to halt the activities of terrorists and kidnappers threatening their lives and livelihoods.
-Sahara
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Washington and Iran engaged in what he described as “productive” peace discussions over the weekend aimed at ending ongoing hostilities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he has ordered a temporary suspension of planned military strikes on Iranian power infrastructure.
He further disclosed that, based on these engagements, he had instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, contingent on the success of the ongoing discussions.
The development follows heightened weekend rhetoric, when Trump warned that the US military would “obliterate” Iran’s power facilities if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours—a strategic waterway vital for global oil shipments.
The latest pause in military action comes amid global concerns over the potential economic fallout of escalating tensions in the US-Iran conflict, particularly its impact on oil prices and inflation.
-Leadership
Residents of Iboropa Akoko in Akoko North-East local government area of Ondo State have been thrown into panic as a 21-year-old man, identified as Alabi Anthony, allegedly raped and killed an elderly woman.
The incident has also thrown the community into mourning, with the residents expressing shock and outrage over the gruesome development in the otherwise quiet area.
Following credible intelligence, operatives of the Ondo State Police Command launched an investigation, which led to the tracking of the deceased’s missing phone and the subsequent arrest of the suspect.
Confirming the development, the police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting to having carnal knowledge of the victim before allegedly strangling her.
“Following credible intelligence, detectives promptly launched an investigation, which led to the tracking of the deceased’s missing phone and the subsequent arrest of the suspect. The suspect has confessed to the crime, admitting to having carnal knowledge of the victim and thereafter strangling her to death.
“The Command condemns this heinous and inhumane act and assures the public that justice will be diligently pursued. The case has been transferred to Headquarters, Akure, for further discreet investigation and prosecution.”
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP gathered that tension heightened in the community when police officers returned the suspect to the area to identify the crime scene, attracting a large crowd of residents.
Angry youths were said to have gathered at the scene, but security operatives quickly intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order, swiftly moving the suspect away from the crowd.
-Leadership
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