NAHCON Dismisses Claims Flynas Rejected Ogun Airport for 2026 Hajj Operations
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed reports alleging that Saudi Arabian carrier Flynas rejected the newly commissioned Gateway International Airport in Iperu, Ogun State, for the ongoing 2026 Hajj airlift operations.
In a statement issued by the commission, NAHCON Chairman, Amb. Ismail Abba Yusuf, described the reports as “false, misleading and entirely unfounded,” insisting that the temporary relocation of Ogun pilgrims to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was strictly an operational decision.
The clarification came after uncertainty over departure arrangements left hundreds of Ogun State pilgrims stranded for days at the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board headquarters in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, while awaiting transportation to Saudi Arabia.
NAHCON stated that the adjustment in departure arrangements was based on “operational timing and flight scheduling” rather than any deficiency with the Gateway International Airport.
According to Amb. Yusuf, Hajj operations involve highly sensitive coordination tied to Saudi Arabia’s aviation windows, aircraft rotation schedules and the movement of pilgrims across participating states.
“At no point did Flynas declare the airport unsuitable or unsafe for operations,” he said, urging the public and intending pilgrims to disregard narratives suggesting the airport was rejected by the airline.
He added that operational adjustments are common during large-scale international pilgrimages and stressed that the Gateway International Airport remains “a functional and approved facility capable of supporting international operations.”
The controversy emerged after pilgrims alleged that Flynas’ reported inability to operate from the Iperu airport left them stranded for several days.
Several pilgrims complained of financial hardship and poor living conditions after waiting days without clear communication.
One of the affected pilgrims, identified simply as Fatimo, said she had exhausted her money on food and medication while waiting for updates on the flight arrangements.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Taiwo Ajibola, confirmed that officials eventually redirected the pilgrims to Lagos for departure.
Ajibola explained that Flynas informed the board at the “11th hour” that it could not land in Iperu due to technical issues, prompting authorities to arrange alternative logistics involving Max Air before Flynas later agreed to operate from Lagos.
Despite the disruption, NAHCON assured pilgrims that it had put all necessary arrangements in place to guarantee their safe and timely transportation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The commission also commended the Ogun State Government for its cooperation during the exercise and appealed to pilgrims and their families to remain calm, emphasizing that the welfare and safety of Nigerian pilgrims remain its top priority.
