A total of 345 Muslim pilgrims from Ogun State have arrived safely in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj exercise, marking the first international flight from the newly inaugurated Gateway International Airport.
The pilgrims departed from the airport in Iperu Remo on Sunday night at about 11:00 p.m. and landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport at around 4:15 a.m. Nigerian time, where they were received by Saudi Hajj and airport officials before completing immigration formalities.
The contingent included 151 male and 194 female pilgrims, accompanied by officials of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, before being transported to their accommodation in Medina to begin preparations for the Hajj rites.
The operation also marked a major milestone for Gateway International Airport, Ogun State, which was recently commissioned and has now recorded its first international flight, opening direct access for pilgrimage travel.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the development as a historic achievement that highlights the state’s infrastructure progress, while officials and religious leaders commended the initiative for easing travel logistics and enhancing Nigeria’s Hajj operations.
