By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed reports alleging that Saudi airline, Flynas, rejected the newly commissioned Gateway International Airport, Iperu, Ogun State, for Hajj operations.

NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, described the reports as false, misleading and unfounded, explaining that the temporary relocation of Ogun pilgrims’ airlift to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, was based strictly on operational considerations.

In a statement issued by the commission’s Information and Publications Division, Yusuf said the decision was reached after a review of flight schedules, turnaround timelines and coordination requirements for the ongoing 2026 Hajj airlift exercise.

He stressed that Flynas never declared the Gateway International Airport unsuitable or unsafe for operations, contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media.

According to him, Hajj operations involve complex scheduling arrangements linked to Saudi Arabia’s aviation windows, aircraft rotation plans and movement coordination involving pilgrims from different states.

He noted that such adjustments are common during large-scale international pilgrimage operations and should not be interpreted as a rejection of the airport.

“The adjustment was purely an operational matter and had nothing to do with the status or capacity of the Gateway International Airport,” Yusuf stated.

The NAHCON chairman urged the public, intending pilgrims and stakeholders to disregard speculative reports aimed at causing unnecessary panic or undermining the airport project.

He maintained that the Gateway International Airport remains an approved and functional facility capable of handling international operations.

Yusuf also assured affected pilgrims that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure their safe and timely transportation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He commended the Ogun State Government for its cooperation and support throughout the Hajj airlift exercise.

The NAHCON boss further appealed to pilgrims and their families to remain calm and patient, reiterating that the safety, welfare and successful participation of Nigerian pilgrims remain the commission’s top priority.