NAHCON Says Gateway Airport Not Rejected By Saudi Carrier

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed reports suggesting that the newly commissioned Gateway International Airport, Iperu, Ogun State, was rejected by Saudi carrier Flynas for Hajj operations, describing such claims as false, misleading and entirely unfounded.

Reacting to media reports surrounding the temporary relocation of Ogun pilgrims to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NAHCON chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, clarified that the adjustment was purely a matter of operational timing and flight scheduling, and not a consequence of any deficiency or rejection of the Gateway Airport by the airline.

According reports from NAHCON’s Information and Publications Division, Ambassador Yusuf explained that the decision followed a careful review of flight logistics, turnaround timelines and the broader coordination of the ongoing 2026 Hajj airlift exercise. He stressed that at no point did Flynas declare the airport unsuitable or unsafe for operations, contrary to insinuations circulating in some sections of the media.

He explained that hajj operations involve highly sensitive scheduling arrangements tied to Saudi Arabia’s aviation windows, aircraft rotation plans and pilgrim movement coordination across different states, adding that such operational adjustments are not unusual during large-scale international pilgrimages.

The NAHCON chairman urged the public, intending pilgrims and stakeholders to disregard speculative narratives aimed at creating panic or discrediting the airport project, insisting that Gateway International Airport remains a functional and approved facility capable of supporting international operations.

Ambassador Yusuf further reassured affected pilgrims that all necessary arrangements had been made to guarantee their safe and timely transportation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while commending the Ogun State Government for its cooperation and support throughout the exercise.

He appealed for calm and patience from pilgrims and their families, emphasizing that the welfare, safety and successful participation of Nigerian pilgrims remain NAHCON’s highest priority.