Ogun State made aviation history on Sunday night as Gateway International Airport in Iperu handled its first international flight, marking the start of the 2026 Hajj operations. The Max Air flight departed at approximately 11:00 p.m. local time with 345 pilgrims — 151 males and 194 females — alongside officials from the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. The aircraft landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport at around 4:15 a.m. Nigerian time after a nonstop 4,600-kilometre journey. This milestone established Ogun as the first state in Nigeria to serve as an international departure point for Hajj pilgrims this year.
The successful operation demonstrated the airport's capacity to handle large, wide-body aircraft, confirming its compliance with international aviation standards. Commissioned on April 4, 2026, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the facility has rapidly transitioned into full operational status. Governor Dapo Abiodun hailed the event as a testament to resilience and strategic development, emphasizing Ogun's growing role in regional commerce and global connectivity. He thanked the federal government and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for selecting the airport as a Hajj departure centre.
NAHCON Chairman Ismail Yusuf, represented by Alhaji Olanrewaju Elegushi, stated the airport's modern infrastructure allowed it to be cleared for Hajj operations without restrictions. Traditional and religious leaders, including the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, and Chief Imam of Gbagura, Prof. Emeritus Kamaldeen Balogun, praised the airport for reducing travel burdens previously linked to Lagos. The Amir Hajj 2026, Alhaji Shamsideen Apelogun, urged pilgrims to represent Nigeria with discipline. Dr Muritala Ejalonibu, speaking for the pilgrims, called the moment historic. Upon arrival, the group was processed and transported to Medina.
Governor Dapo Abiodun celebrates a new airport while many Nigerians still struggle with basic road access to such facilities. The fanfare around a single Hajj flight does not reflect the reality of ordinary pilgrims who have long faced logistical nightmares. If this airport is truly transformative, its benefits must extend beyond one symbolic journey. For now, it serves more as a political showcase than a proven public service.
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