Gateway Air ready to airlift hajj pilgrims — Abiodun
Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun announced readiness for the state-owned Gateway Air to airlift pilgrims not just from Ogun, but also from other South-West states for the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
During a meeting on Friday with a delegation from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), led by Commissioner of Operations Prince Anofiu Elegushi, Abiodun emphasized Ogun’s commitment to exploring private-sector options for Hajj airlift operations. This initiative is aimed particularly at intending pilgrims from Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.
Abiodun highlighted the state government’s awareness of new regulations regarding private-sector participation in Hajj operations. He commended NAHCON for its previous support which facilitated the successful airlift of Ogun pilgrims from the Gateway International Airport during the last Hajj.
The governor reiterated the state’s intention to charter an aircraft branded under Gateway Air to directly transport its pilgrims. “We believe we can operate efficiently,” he said, citing the successful development of the airport and the airline as evidence of Ogun State’s organizational capabilities.
He thanked NAHCON for sharing updated Hajj regulations from Saudi Arabia and recognized the timely commencement of registration for the upcoming Hajj, reflecting the commission’s preparedness and organizational effort.
On the topic of religious harmony within Ogun, Abiodun noted that the state has maintained peace without any religious crises during his time in office, attributing this stability to the cooperative relationships among citizens of varying faiths.
Additionally, he responded positively to NAHCON’s proposal for South-West states to collaborate in establishing a single representative body for coordinating Hajj operations, similar to the Oodua Investment Group structure. Abiodun plans to discuss this proposal with other members of the investment group.
Elegushi informed the governor that registration for the next Hajj has begun and will be extended to allow more intending pilgrims to register. He emphasized the urgency in providing accurate figures to Saudi authorities for adequate preparation for the pilgrimage.
He noted that the historical allocation of Hajj slots to Nigeria has decreased, with Saudi Arabia now allocating around 50,000 slots, compared to 95,000 in previous years. The reduction is attributed to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative aimed at enhancing private-sector involvement and modernizing Hajj operations.
Elegushi detailed plans for pre-Hajj visits to Saudi Arabia for states to identify accommodation and services for their pilgrims. He indicated that Saudi Arabia might allocate 98 percent of Hajj quotas to private operators, prompting states to consider privatization of Hajj operations.
However, he acknowledged challenges, such as the requirement for independent operators to commit to a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims, which many South-West states currently struggle to meet. To address this, NAHCON is considering forming a single organization to pool pilgrims from participating states.
Elegushi encouraged Governor Abiodun to ensure that Ogun successfully utilizes Gateway Air for airlifting its pilgrims, akin to the previous successful operation from the Gateway International Airport.
He concluded by discussing the ongoing payment process for the upcoming Hajj, which is scheduled to be completed by December 2, 2026, and flagged new health policies from Saudi Arabia requiring health screenings for specified diseases before pilgrims receive clearance for the pilgrimage. He urged the Ogun State Government to continue its adherence to health protocols in place.
