Hundreds of Ogun State pilgrims travelling for the 2026 Hajj were left stranded after Saudi Arabian airline, Flynas, reportedly declined to operate from the newly commissioned Gateway International Airport in Iperu.
The airport, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on April 4, 2026, was expected to serve as the departure point for Ogun pilgrims heading to Makkah. However, the planned operation suffered a setback after Flynas allegedly raised technical concerns about landing at the facility.
The development disrupted travel arrangements for many pilgrims who had gathered at the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board headquarters in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, since Saturday in anticipation of their departure.
Although Max Air later transported the first batch of pilgrims from the airport on Sunday, several others remained stranded for days without clear communication from officials.
Many of the affected pilgrims said they only received text messages on Wednesday informing them that their departure point had been moved from Iperu to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The delay reportedly caused financial and emotional hardship, as several pilgrims complained of spending their money on food, medication, and accommodation while waiting endlessly for updates.
One of the pilgrims, identified simply as Fatimo, lamented the situation, saying she had exhausted most of the money she brought along due to the prolonged delay.
She appealed to the Ogun State Government to make alternative arrangements immediately if the airport was not ready to handle international flights.
Another pilgrim, who spoke anonymously, criticised the handling of the situation, insisting that safety and proper aviation clearance should have been prioritised before scheduling the flights.
According to him, many pilgrims were forced to endure uncomfortable conditions at the waiting centre, with some falling ill after spending several days there.
The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board eventually informed pilgrims through its WhatsApp platform that all subsequent departures would now take place from Lagos.
The second batch of pilgrims was later moved to Lagos on Thursday morning after remaining stranded at the board’s premises for days.
Earlier, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had announced that the inaugural Hajj flight would depart from Gateway International Airport through Flynas. However, the inaugural ceremony was later relocated to Kogi State at the last minute.
As of Thursday evening, several pilgrims were still waiting at the Lagos airport for their departure.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Taiwo Ajibola, confirmed that Flynas refused to operate from Iperu due to technical reasons communicated from Saudi Arabia.
Ajibola explained that the airline informed authorities at the last minute that it could not land at the airport, forcing the board to seek alternative arrangements with Max Air.
He added that Flynas would eventually airlift the pilgrims from Lagos after the necessary adjustments were made.
Efforts to get an official response from Flynas were unsuccessful, as enquiries sent to the airline were not answered at the time of filing the report.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government referred enquiries to aviation consultant Capt. Dapo Olumide, who advised journalists to seek details from the National Hajj Commission or the Ogun pilgrims board.
NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Usara also promised to provide clarification after consulting with state officials, but no response was received afterward.
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