The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has clarified why the inaugural flight for the 2026 Hajj operation was not conducted from the newly inaugurated Gateway International Airport in Iperu, Ogun State.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) dismissed reports suggesting that Saudi airline Flynas rejected the airport, describing such claims as false, misleading, and unfounded.
Yusuf explained that the decision to relocate Ogun State pilgrims’ departure point to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was purely operational, based on flight scheduling, logistics coordination, and aircraft turnaround considerations for the ongoing Hajj airlift exercise.
He stressed that at no time did Flynas declare the Gateway airport unsuitable or unsafe for operations.
According to him, Hajj airlift operations require strict coordination with Saudi aviation schedules, aircraft rotation plans, and the movement of pilgrims across different states, making occasional adjustments inevitable.
Yusuf further noted that the adjustment had no connection to any deficiency in the Gateway International Airport, which he described as a functional and approved facility for aviation operations.
He urged the public and intending pilgrims to disregard what he called speculative narratives capable of causing unnecessary panic or undermining confidence in the airport project.
The NAHCON chairman also assured that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure the safe and timely airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, while commending the Ogun State Government for its cooperation.
He appealed for patience and understanding from pilgrims and their families, reiterating that their welfare, safety, and successful participation in the 2026 Hajj remain the commission’s top priority.
