Ogun government clarifies Hajj pilgrims’ diversion to Lagos airport
The Ogun State Government has addressed concerns over the relocation of Hajj pilgrims from the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, to Lagos. Officials emphasized that the move was not due to any safety or operational issues at the new airport. Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor, explained that the diversion was a temporary response to flight scheduling complications with Saudi authorities. The government reiterated that the airport is fully certified and equipped for international operations, including Hajj flights.
TLDR
- The Ogun State Government stated that the relocation of Hajj pilgrims to Lagos was due to Saudi aviation authorities' inability to secure a landing slot for Max Air, not because of safety or operational issues at Gateway International Airport.
- Kayode Akinmade clarified that the decision was a temporary logistical adjustment to avoid disruptions to the pilgrimage timetable.
- The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board confirmed that Flynas Airline could not land at the airport for reasons unknown to him.
- The government highlighted that the airport, commissioned on April 4, 2026, by President Bola Tinubu, is fully certified and equipped with modern aviation infrastructure.
- The first batch of Ogun pilgrims successfully departed from the airport, marking a historic achievement for the state’s aviation and Hajj logistics sector.
