A major aviation milestone has been recorded in Ogun State as the newly developed Gateway International Airport Iperu successfully handled its first international flight, airlifting Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

The flight, operated by Max Air, departed Iperu on Sunday night with 345 pilgrims on board—151 men and 194 women—alongside officials of the state Muslim pilgrims welfare board. The aircraft reportedly landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Describing the development as a breakthrough, Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, said the operation signals the airport’s readiness for wide-body international flights.

“The development signals the facility’s readiness to accommodate wide-body operations, reinforcing its compliance with global aviation standards and its capacity for long-haul international travel,” he said.

The successful flight also officially kicks off Hajj operations from the state, positioning Ogun as an emerging player in regional and international air transport.

Speaking before the departure, Governor Dapo Abiodun described the inaugural international operation as more than just aviation progress.

“What we celebrate today goes far beyond the arrival and departure of an international aircraft; it is a testament to focus, determination, resilience, commitment, sacrifice and teamwork,” he said.

He added that the development reflects Ogun’s broader ambition to strengthen infrastructure, attract investment, and become a hub for global connectivity.

Abiodun also acknowledged the role of the federal government and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for approving the airport as an official Hajj departure centre.

Representing NAHCON, Olanrewaju Elegushi, speaking on behalf of chairman Ismail Yusuf, said the new departure point would significantly ease travel logistics for pilgrims in Nigeria’s south-west region.





He noted that pilgrims would no longer need to travel long distances to other designated airports before embarking on the pilgrimage.

He further stated that the facility is the first state-owned airport in the region approved for Hajj operations without restrictions.

Shamsideen Apelogun, leader of the 2026 Hajj delegation, urged pilgrims to maintain discipline and represent both Ogun State and Nigeria responsibly during the exercise.

The milestone follows closely after the airport’s first commercial flight on October 7, 2025, when Governor Abiodun formally opened operations at the facility.

The project, initiated in 2021, forms part of the state government’s transport infrastructure plan aimed at improving connectivity and boosting economic development.

With the latest Hajj flight, Gateway International Airport’s transition from a domestic facility to an international gateway appears firmly underway.