Tinubu Urges Swift Senate Confirmation for NAHCON Boss and Adamawa rtd General as INEC Nominee

By Tgnews Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to expedite the screening and confirmation of two high-profile nominees, aiming to fill critical leadership gaps in Nigeria’s electoral and Hajj management institutions.

In separate letters read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, the President urged the upper chamber to confirm Ambassador Ismael Abba Yusuf as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

The nomination comes following the recent resignation of Professor Abdullahi Usman, who served in the role for approximately 14 months.

Ambassador Yusuf, a seasoned career diplomat, brings extensive experience to the position. He most recently served as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024. Notably, Yusuf played a foundational role in NAHCON’s establishment, having anchored the secretariat of the Presidential Committees on Hajj between 2002 and 2007, which laid the groundwork for the commission’s creation under the NAHCON Act of 2006.

The President emphasized the need for swift confirmation to ensure seamless continuity in overseeing Nigeria’s annual Hajj operations, which involve coordinating the pilgrimage for thousands of Nigerian Muslims to Saudi Arabia.

In a parallel move, President Tinubu also sought the Senate’s approval for Rear Admiral Jemila Abubakar Marafa (Rtd.), Adamawa born General for an appointment related to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as referred to the relevant committees. Rear Admiral Marafa (also spelled Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa in some records) is a trailblazing figure in Nigeria’s military history.

Born in 1965 in Whona village, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, she joined the Nigerian Navy in 1988 and was commissioned as a midshipman in 1990. She made history as the first female Commodore in the Nigerian Navy (promoted in December 2017) and the first Northern woman to attain that rank.

An international maritime lawyer by training, she retired from active service in 2023 after a distinguished 35-year career marked by breaking gender barriers in the armed forces.

Senate President Akpabio referred Ambassador Yusuf’s nomination to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Rear Admiral Marafa’s to the Committee on Electoral Matters (or relevant standing committee), directing them to report back within one week.

These nominations underscore President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to strengthen key national institutions with experienced and diverse leaders. Stakeholders in the Hajj ecosystem and electoral processes have expressed optimism that the confirmations, if granted swiftly, will enhance efficiency and transparency in their respective domains.

The Senate is expected to commence screening processes soon, with observers watching closely for any developments in these pivotal appointments.