Ogun Gateway Airport Secures Full Clearance for 2026 Hajj Operations

The Gateway International Airport in Ogun State has received full regulatory approval to serve as a departure point for the 2026 Hajj, according to a document from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The approval was contained in a memo dated 30 April 2026 and addressed to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). The document confirmed that Gateway International Airport was among five airports granted unrestricted clearance for Hajj flights.

The NCAA stated that the approvals followed comprehensive inspections of all designated airports selected for the 2026 pilgrimage. The assessments, it said, covered operational readiness, safety compliance, security arrangements, and passenger facilitation standards.

“The inspections were conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) and relevant ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), with particular emphasis on safety, security, facilitation, and operational readiness,” the memo read.

Alongside Gateway International Airport, the other airports cleared for 24-hour Hajj operations are Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; and Obafemi Jeremiah International Airport, Port Harcourt.

The regulator noted that adequate facilities were in place for Hajj operations at the approved airports. With the clearance, pilgrims from Ogun and neighbouring states are expected to benefit from easier travel logistics and reduced congestion at busier airports during the Hajj period.

Aviation observers said the development could also boost investor confidence in the long-term commercial viability of the Ogun airport, putting to rest previous debates over its certification and readiness for international operations.

The memo further disclosed that 12 other airports were granted conditional clearance, requiring improvements and compliance with identified regulatory gaps before they can be fully approved. The General Muhammadu Buhari Airport in Maiduguri was among those listed for conditional approval.

In a separate development, the NCAA has sanctioned domestic carrier XEJET Airways with a N2 million fine for alleged violations of consumer protection regulations.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said the penalty was part of ongoing efforts to compel airlines to improve service delivery and ensure fair treatment of passengers.

While details of the specific infractions were not disclosed, Achimugu maintained that the fine stemmed from breaches of regulations designed to protect passengers against poor treatment, operational lapses, and service failures.