The first batch of 345 Ogun State pilgrims who performed the 2026 Hajj in Saudi Arabia has returned safely to Nigeria after completing their spiritual exercise in Mecca and Medina.
The pilgrims, 151 males and 194 females, arrived on Thursday at the Gateway International Airport, Ilisan-Iperu Remo, aboard a Flynas Airbus A330, landing at exactly 8:41 p.m.
Their return followed a coordinated operation between the Ogun State Government and relevant Hajj authorities, marking another direct international arrival at the state-owned airport.
Top officials, including Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi and Head of Service Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka, were on ground to receive them on behalf of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
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Speaking through Talabi, the governor described the successful return as a milestone in the state’s Hajj and aviation management, noting that both departure and return operations were seamless.
He commended the pilgrims for their conduct in Saudi Arabia, urging them to sustain the values of humility, discipline, and lawful living upon their return.
The Governor’s Consultant on Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal Sugar, thanked the government for sustained support and close engagement throughout the exercise.
Some pilgrims, including Alhaji Ayomide Adetunji and Alhaja Tawa Balogun, expressed gratitude for a safe return and praised the welfare arrangements, describing the direct landing at Gateway Airport as smooth and historic.