A document by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, sighted by our correspondent, has revealed that the Gateway International Airport, Ogun State, received full regulatory approval for the 2026 Hajj operations.
The memo, dated April 30, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, confirmed that the Ogun airport was among five airports cleared to operate Hajj flights without restrictions.
According to the NCAA, the approval followed extensive inspections carried out across all designated airports selected for the 2026 Hajj exercise. The regulatory authority explained that the assessments covered operational readiness, safety compliance, security arrangements, and passenger facilitation standards.
The memo stated that 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 NCAA listed Gateway International Airport among airports granted approval for 24-hour Hajj operations, alongside Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; and Obafemi Jeremiah International Airport, Port Harcourt.
In the document, the aviation regulator stated, “There are adequate facilities for Hajj.” The approval means pilgrims from Ogun and neighbouring states are expected to enjoy smoother travel arrangements and reduced pressure often experienced at more congested airports during Hajj operations.
Aviation observers noted that the recognition could also strengthen investor confidence in the airport’s long-term commercial viability.
The memo further revealed that while five airports secured outright approval, 12 others were granted conditional clearance subject to improvements and compliance with identified regulatory gaps. Among those listed for conditional approval was the General Muhammadu Buhari Airport, Maiduguri.
The latest development is expected to put to rest controversies surrounding the status of the Ogun airport after previous debates over its certification and readiness for international operations.
In another development, the NCAA has sanctioned a domestic carrier, XEJET Airways, over alleged violations of passenger rights, imposing a fine of N2m on the airline for consumer protection-related infractions.
The sanction, according to the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, forms part of ongoing efforts to compel airlines to improve service delivery and ensure passengers are treated fairly within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Although details of the specific infractions were not disclosed, the NCAA spokesperson maintained that the penalty was connected to breaches of consumer protection regulations designed to safeguard passengers against poor treatment, operational lapses, and service failures by airlines.
