Ogun Gateway Airport Secures Full Clearance for 2026 Hajj Operations
The Gateway International Airport has received full regulatory approval to operate Hajj flights for the 2026 pilgrimage, according to a document issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The memo, dated April 30, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), confirmed that the Ogun airport was among five airports cleared to conduct Hajj operations without any restrictions.
The NCAA stated that the approval followed comprehensive inspections of all designated airports selected for the 2026 Hajj exercise. The assessments evaluated 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, four other airports were granted approval for 24-hour Hajj operations: 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 “there are adequate facilities for Hajj” at the five approved locations. The clearance is expected to ease travel for pilgrims from Ogun and neighbouring states and reduce congestion at busier airports during the Hajj season. Aviation analysts added that the recognition may also strengthen investor confidence in the airport’s long-term commercial viability.
While five airports received outright approval, the NCAA disclosed that 12 others were granted conditional clearance and must address identified regulatory gaps before full operations can commence. Among those listed for conditional approval was the General Muhammadu Buhari Airport in Maiduguri.
The development is expected to resolve previous controversies surrounding the Gateway International Airport’s certification and readiness for international operations.
In a separate enforcement action, the NCAA sanctioned domestic carrier XEJET Airways for alleged violations of passenger rights, imposing a fine of ₦2 million for consumer protection infractions.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said the penalty forms part of ongoing efforts to compel airlines to improve service delivery and ensure fair treatment of passengers. While specific details of the violations were not disclosed, Achimugu confirmed the infractions related to breaches of consumer protection regulations designed to safeguard passengers against poor treatment, operational lapses, and service failures.