The Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Hashim Atere, has confirmed that the state’s 2026 Hajj pilgrims will depart directly from the upgraded Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan.
Atere disclosed this in a statement released by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, on Wednesday in Ibadan.
He explained that the airport has already demonstrated its capacity to handle large aircraft. The wide-bodied plane that conveyed President Bola Tinubu to Ibadan for the coronation of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, successfully landed and took off from the airport in September without any issues.
According to him, “The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had visited the airport twice before the President visited, and were satisfied with what they met on the ground. So, everything is set for our pilgrims to take off from the airport. There should not be any hindrance to our people taking off from the airport for the 2026 hajj pilgrimage.”
Atere expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for his consistent support, noting that the governor’s backing has been central to the board’s achievements, accolades, and national recognition. He assured intending pilgrims that the 2026 Hajj exercise would be even better organized than previous years.
He also urged all prospective pilgrims to meet their financial obligations promptly, stressing that the board would notextend the December 5 payment deadline.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Governor Makinde recently flagged off the N41bn upgrade of the Ibadan airport, which was renamed Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in 2024. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the airport premises, with the project expected to be completed within 12 months.
Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to modernizing the airport since 2019, describing it as part of a broader vision to transform Ibadan into a regional business hub in the South-West.
“Our focus is on fighting poverty, not the poor,” he said. “While it is true that times are tough, this project represents a significant investment in our future.”
