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The Ogun State Government has dismissed as false reports alleging that Saudi airline, Flynas, rejected the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, for the transportation of Ogun pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj exercise.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government described the publication by The Punch titled “Pilgrims stranded as Saudi airline shuns Ogun airport” as misleading and a distortion of facts.

According to the government, the relocation of the second batch of pilgrims from the Gateway International Airport was not linked to any safety, operational, or infrastructural issue at the facility.

Rather, the government explained that the development resulted from the inability of Saudi aviation authorities to secure a landing slot for Nigeria’s designated carrier, Max Air, which had been engaged by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, for operations at the Gateway International Airport, GIA, thereby necessitating a change in flight arrangements.

The statement further explained that the notice of the scheduling challenge came barely two weeks before the planned operations, forcing NAHCON to redirect the affected pilgrims to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as the most practical alternative.

The government insisted that Flynas did not reject the Gateway International Airport over safety concerns, infrastructural deficiencies, or operational limitations, contrary to claims contained in the report.

It added that the first batch of pilgrims had earlier departed successfully from the Gateway International Airport without any incident, describing the operation as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s aviation and Hajj logistics.

Commissioned on April 4, 2026, by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Gateway International Airport was described as a fully certified international aviation facility approved for Hajj operations by relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, in compliance with ICAO SARPs standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The government noted that the airport has undergone several technical and safety audits since 2025 and is equipped with advanced infrastructure, including a CAT II Instrument Landing System, precision navigation systems, and modern weather monitoring equipment.

It further stressed that the airport’s runway is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 747, and Airbus A380, highlighting its readiness for international operations.

The statement also argued that no aviation authority would have approved the airport for use if there were any safety or operational concerns, noting that even presidential flights have landed at the facility.

While reaffirming its respect for press freedom, the government urged media organisations to verify facts before publication, especially on sensitive matters relating to national infrastructure and international aviation operations.

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