Despite the multi-billion naira investment in the Gateway International Airport, hundreds of Ogun State pilgrims heading to the Holy Land of Makkah for the 2026 Hajj were left stranded after Saudi airline, Flynas, allegedly declined to operate from the newly built airport in Iperu.
President Bola Tinubu commissioned the airport on April 4, 2026, with the Ogun State Government describing it as a flagship legacy project.
The pilgrims were initially scheduled to be airlifted directly from the Gateway International Airport by Flynas, the Saudi Arabia-based carrier. However, it was gathered that the airline declined to land at the airport due to unspecified technical concerns.
Following the development, Max Air, a Nigerian carrier, transported the first batch of pilgrims from the Iperu airport on Sunday, while subsequent flights were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. However, many intending pilgrims who had gathered at the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, remained stranded at the time.
The pilgrims said they were later informed via text messages that their departure point had been changed to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Until the message was received on Wednesday, they said there had been no formal communication despite gathering at the board’s headquarters since Saturday.
Many pilgrims reported financial strain, noting that they had exhausted funds on food and other necessities while waiting. Some also said they had fallen ill, unable to return home after bidding their families farewell.
A pilgrim who gave her name as Fatimo said, “I have almost exhausted all the money I have on me on food and drugs. We couldn’t go home because the plan wasn’t for us to remain in this place till this time, and they weren’t saying anything to us. We don’t know what the next move could be.”
Fatimo appealed to the Ogun State Government to consider alternative arrangements. She said, “Well, just help us appeal to them. We have been hearing different things since Saturday. If this airport cannot receive an international flight, the governor should please order the board to let us fly from any other certified airport in the country. It is draining to remain here.”
Another pilgrim, who requested not to have his name in print due to the nature of the matter, criticised the arrangement, stressing that aviation safety and operational clearance should be prioritised.
“We are not kids. Why should we continue to stay here without a clear explanation as to why this is happening? The other airline said they cannot land, let us get into a bus and go to Lagos, where they can land, but you refused! For what reason exactly? I have been feeling sick because of this place.
“This place is largely not comfortable for us. Mosquitoes have been feasting on us. They should do the right thing, please. They should know that we are going to pray; will it then be good for us to lay curses on them?” he said.
On Wednesday, the board notified pilgrims via its WhatsApp group that departure would now take place from Lagos instead of Iperu. The second batch was later transported to Lagos on Thursday around 9 a.m., after spending several days at the board’s headquarters.
The National Hajj Commission had earlier announced in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Information and Communication, Fatima Usara, that the inaugural flight would depart from the Gateway Airport in Iperu via Flynas.
However, the inaugural flight ceremony was later moved to Kogi State at the last minute.
As of a few minutes before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, pilgrims were still at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport awaiting departure.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Taiwo Ajibola, confirmed that pilgrims would now fly from Lagos. Ajibola also confirmed that Flynas, originally billed to operate from Iperu, declined to fly into the airport.
He said, “As we speak, my pilgrims have been issued boarding passes, and my aircraft is on the ground now. Initially, our carrier, Flynas, said it could not fly from Iperu, so we had to arrange another aircraft, which is Max Air.
“You have to understand that Max Air has been on another schedule because Hajj operations have already been scheduled. Just like Flynas was scheduled to pick up our pilgrims from Iperu for both the first and second leg, along the line, based on technical issues that I don’t know about, they said they couldn’t land in Iperu at the 11th hour. They sent a message from Saudi Arabia that they couldn’t land in Iperu.”
When asked which airline would transport the pilgrims from Lagos, Ajibola said, “Flynas will be picking them from Lagos today.”