The Ogun State Government has dismissed reports alleging that Saudi airline, Flynas, rejected the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, for the transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj exercise.
The government, in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described the report published by The Punch titled, “Pilgrims stranded as Saudi airline shuns Ogun airport,” as misleading and a distortion of facts.
Akinmade explained that the relocation of the second batch of Ogun pilgrims from the Gateway International Airport was not connected to any safety, operational, or infrastructural deficiency at the facility.
According to him, the adjustment became necessary following the inability of Saudi aviation authorities to secure a landing slot for Max Air, the airline engaged by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for operations from the airport.
He stated that the development forced NAHCON to redirect the affected pilgrims to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as an alternative arrangement.
The statement partly read, “Flynas did not reject the Gateway International Airport on grounds of safety, infrastructure deficiency, or operational limitation as falsely portrayed in the report.
“The relocation was purely a scheduling and logistics issue arising from international aviation slot constraints involving the designated Nigerian carrier.”
The government further noted that the first batch of pilgrims had earlier departed successfully from the Gateway International Airport without any incident, describing the operation as a milestone in Nigeria’s aviation and Hajj logistics sector.
It added that the airport, commissioned on April 4, 2026, by President Bola Tinubu, is a fully certified international aviation facility approved for Hajj operations by relevant aviation authorities, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
The government also said the airport had undergone several technical and safety audits since 2025 and possesses modern aviation infrastructure such as CAT II Instrument Landing System, precision navigation systems, and weather monitoring equipment.
It added that the runway is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft including Boeing 777, Boeing 747, and Airbus A380.
While reaffirming its commitment to press freedom, the government urged media organisations to verify information before publication, particularly on matters relating to national infrastructure and international aviation operations.
