The Ogun State Government has firmly denied reports alleging that Saudi Arabian airline, Flynas, rejected the newly commissioned Gateway International Airport, Iperu, for the transportation of pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj exercise, insisting that the rearrangement of flight operations was purely administrative and not connected to safety or infrastructural deficiencies.
The government described as “false, misleading and a gross distortion of facts” a publication by The Punch newspaper titled “Pilgrims stranded as Saudi airline shuns Ogun airport.”
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the state government clarified that the relocation of the second batch of Ogun pilgrims from Gateway International Airport to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was necessitated by logistical and scheduling constraints involving aviation authorities in Saudi Arabia.
According to the statement, the issue arose from the inability of Saudi aviation authorities to secure a landing slot for Max Air, the Nigerian carrier designated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to operate from the Gateway International Airport during the pilgrimage exercise.
The government explained that the development came barely two weeks before the scheduled commencement of operations, leaving NAHCON with little choice but to redirect the affected pilgrims to Lagos as the most practical alternative to avoid disruption of the pilgrimage timetable.
“It is therefore inaccurate and unfair to suggest that Flynas rejected the airport over safety concerns or operational inadequacies,” the statement noted.
The Ogun State Government stressed that the airport had already successfully handled the first batch of pilgrims without any incident, describing the exercise as a landmark achievement for the state and a major boost for Nigeria’s aviation and Hajj transportation operations.
Officials maintained that the successful airlift of the first batch demonstrated the airport’s operational readiness and compliance with international aviation standards.
The state further recalled that the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, was officially commissioned on April 4, 2026, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has since received full certification from relevant aviation regulatory authorities, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), for international and Hajj operations.
The statement added that the airport was built in line with the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), assuring that the facility had undergone several technical and safety audits since 2025.
According to the government, the airport is equipped with modern aviation infrastructure, including a Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS), precision navigation equipment, and advanced weather monitoring systems designed to support safe and efficient flight operations.
It also highlighted the airport’s capability to accommodate large commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 747, and Airbus A380, underscoring its status as a fully functional international airport ready for both domestic and global aviation activities.
The government argued that no responsible aviation authority would have approved the airport for operations if there were any unresolved safety or technical concerns.
“As further proof of confidence in the facility, the airport has successfully received presidential flights and other high-profile operations,” the statement added.
While reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the Ogun State Government urged media organisations to uphold professionalism by verifying sensitive aviation-related information before publication.
It warned that inaccurate reports on critical national infrastructure could damage public confidence and undermine Nigeria’s growing aviation sector.
The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring seamless Hajj operations for Ogun pilgrims and maintaining the Gateway International Airport as a strategic aviation hub capable of meeting international standards and supporting economic development in the state and beyond.
