Second batch of Ogun hajj pilgrims arrive Gateway Airport

The second batch of Ogun State pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage has successfully arrived at the Gateway International Airport, Iperu.

The 345 pilgrims, conveyed aboard an Airbus A330 operated by Flynas and arriving directly from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, landed in Ogun State on Friday at exactly 5:12 p.m.

Recall that on Thursday, the first batch of 345 pilgrims arrived in Ogun State at 10 p.m.

Receiving the second batch, the Amirul Hajj for the 2026 pilgrimage, Alhaji Shamsideen Apelogun, described the direct transportation from Saudi Arabia to the Gateway International Airport as a remarkable achievement in the history of Ogun State.

He expressed delight at being among the first pilgrims to utilise the international airport for an international flight.

Apelogun also appreciated the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for his fatherly support and unwavering commitment to the successful completion of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

He said, “Governor Abiodun was present throughout the pilgrims’ stay in Medina and Makkah, consistently reaching out to inquire about their welfare and well-being to ensure they were adequately cared for.”

He applauded the Ogun State pilgrims for their exemplary conduct in the Holy Land, noting that their discipline and adherence to regulations earned the state commendation among Hajj stakeholders.

Recall that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria rated Ogun State pilgrims among the best-behaved contingents during the 2026 pilgrimage.

Apelogun, however, urged the pilgrims to sustain the values of patience, discipline and devotion they imbibed during the pilgrimage. He also thanked Almighty Allah for granting them a safe and successful Hajj, while commending the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for the success recorded throughout the sacred journey.