Press Release
In line with the Presidential directive on immediate change of leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON) the new Acting Chairman, Alhaji Jalal Ahmed Arabi formally reported to his new office today, 18th October 2023 as instructed.
In his welcome address to the NAHCON Management, the Acting Chairman gave gratitude to the Almighty for giving him the rare privilege of managing affairs of the Commission out of the thousands that are equally qualified for the job. He similarly expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with the leadership of the Commission. He described the job as a call to nation building under the Tinubu led government’s renewed hope mantra. While giving the staff of NAHCON the assurance of enjoying a brotherly relationship with him, cooperation, recognizing their rights etc. the new Acting Chairman reminded them of the virtues of trust, sacrifice and fear of Allah, disclosing his intention to be firm on discharge of duties and to join him in repositioning the Commission for the betterment of all.
Earlier while welcoming Alhaji Jalal Arabi, the former Commissioner Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai, who represented the former Chairman Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, that was unavoidably absent, reassured the new leadership that though coming at a critical time in the Hajj planning period, he is surrounded by capable staff that would certainly assist him in succeeding in the discharge of his new assignment. He congratulated the new man and prayed for his success.
An indigene of Gombe state, Mr Jalal Ahmed Arabi was born on October 28, 1962 in Jos, Plateau state. He began his educational sojourn in Islamiyya Primary School, Jos, from where he proceeded to Government Secondary School Gombe, in 1973. From 1978 to 1980, he attended College of Arts and Science, Bauchi, where he obtained his IJMB Certificate before moving to University of Jos in 1980 for his Law degree. Alhaji Arabi became a certified Barrister of Law in 1984 from Council of Legal Education, Lagos. His other educational and professional pursuits continued in the following institutions, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, (Legal Drafting); ASCON, (Management) 1993 University of Maryland, (Negotiations) – 1990, Jesus College, Cambridge, (Economics Ethnics and Etiquette), 1996 and World Bank Institute, (Public-Private Partnership) 2000. Others include Institution for Higher Defence Studies, Paris, (Counter-Terrorism) 2003, Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, (Seminar on Strategy and Command) 2004; Geneva Centre for Security Policy, (Security Policy) 2006; Marshall Centre for Security Studies Germany, (Counter-Terrorism) 2006; Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, California, (Civil-Military Relations) 2005; Harvard Business School, (Negotiations for Development) 2010; RIPA, UK, (Management) etc., 2011; ILI Washington (Leadership, etc.) 2013 and LSE, UK (Management) 2014 (copied from Thinkers Magazine, September 18th 2021 Jalal Arabi: Spearheading refreshing change in style By Abdullahi Muhammed).
Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi’s professional practice commenced in July, 1985 at the Ministry of Justice, Bauchi, Bauchi state as a State Counsel where he rose to the rank of Senior State Counsel. He had a career stint in Manto Processing Ltd, Bauchi as Secretary/Legal Adviser and Head of Administration, which continued in Bauchi State Water Board from 1989 to August 1990. He held other positions such as Legal Officer and Personal Assistant to one time Honourable Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu in the then Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. He served also as Legal Adviser to Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in 1993, Federal Ministry of Transport in December 2000, Ministry of Defence as the Deputy Director (Parastatals/Special Services) in January 2003 and State House Counsel in June, 2007.
Mr Arabi became Permanent Secretary, State House in November, 2015 under the Muhammadu Buhari led government before exiting active service as Permanent Secretary Humanitarian Services.
Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi takes over from Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan as the 4th NAHCON Chairman in acting capacity until 17th of January. Among his entourage were Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, second NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, former NAHCON Commissioner PPMF, Alhaji Adebayo and a host of his former staff, aides and well-wishers.
Fatima Sanda Usara,
Assistant Director Public Affairs,
NAHCON
