Ogun airport still in contention, says NAHCON chairman, debunking airline rejection claims

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has categorically denied rumors that the Gateway International Airport, located in Iperu, Ogun, was deemed unsuitable by Saudi airline carrier Flynas for Hajj operations.

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NAHCON Chairman Ismail Yusuf labeled claims suggesting the airport's rejection as false, misleading, and entirely baseless in a statement released to the press on Friday.

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Yusuf's response came on the heels of media reports surrounding the temporary relocation of Ogun pilgrims to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, which he attributed to operational timing and flight scheduling logistics.

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According to Yusuf, the decision to relocate pilgrims was made after a thorough review of flight logistics, turnaround timelines, and the overall coordination of the 2026 Hajj airlift exercise.

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Yusuf emphasized that Flynas never declared the Gateway Airport unsuitable or unsafe for operations, contrary to speculation circulating in certain media outlets.

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Hajj operations, Yusuf explained, involve complex scheduling arrangements tied to Saudi Arabia's aviation windows, aircraft rotation plans, and pilgrim movement coordination across different states.

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Such operational adjustments, he noted, are not unusual during large-scale international pilgrimages.

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An earlier statement from the Ogun State government on Friday clarified that the relocation of the second batch of pilgrims from the Gateway International Airport was not due to safety, operational, or infrastructural challenges at the facility.

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NAHCON Chairman Yusuf urged the public, intending pilgrims, and stakeholders to disregard speculative narratives aimed at creating panic or discrediting the airport project.

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Yusuf reaffirmed that the Gateway International Airport remains a functional and approved facility capable of supporting international operations.

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He reassured affected pilgrims that all necessary arrangements had been made to guarantee their safe and timely transportation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Yusuf commended the Ogun State Government for its cooperation and support throughout the exercise and appealed for calm and patience from pilgrims and their families.

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He emphasized that the welfare, safety, and successful participation of Nigerian pilgrims remain NAHCON's highest priority.