The second batch of Ogun State pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage arrived at the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, on Friday at exactly 5:12 p.m. Nigerian time.

The pilgrims were conveyed aboard an Airbus A330 operated by Flynas, a Saudi Arabian airline. The batch comprised 345 pilgrims who arrived directly from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking another successful phase of the state’s return airlift operation.

Speaking upon arrival, the Amir Hajj for the 2026 pilgrimage, Alhaji Prince Shamsideen Adebayo Apelogun, described the transportation of pilgrims directly from Saudi Arabia to the Gateway International Airport as a remarkable achievement in the history of Ogun State.

“I am delighted that we are among the first pilgrims to utilise this international airport. I want to use this opportunity to thank Governor Dapo Abiodun for his fatherly support and commitment to the successful completion of the 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

“The Governor was there for all the pilgrims throughout their stay in Madinah And Mecca. He constantly reached out to inquire about their welfare and ensure that they were adequately cared for,” Apelogun said.

The Amir Hajj also commended the Ogun State pilgrims for their exemplary conduct throughout their stay in the Holy Land, noting that their discipline and adherence to regulations earned the state recognition among Hajj stakeholders.

According to him, it was gratifying that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) rated Ogun State pilgrims among the best-behaved contingents during the 2026 pilgrimage.

He urged the returning pilgrims to sustain the values of patience, discipline, and devotion imbibed during the pilgrimage, while thanking Almighty Allah for granting them a safe and successful Hajj exercise.