Oyo Moves to Upgrade Olodo Hajj Camp Ahead of 2026 Pilgrimage Airlift
The Oyo State Government has intensified preparations to commence the 2026 Hajj airlift from the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, with plans underway to renovate key facilities at the Olodo Hajj Camp in Ibadan.
Chairman of the airport upgrading committee, Abimbola Adekanmbi, disclosed this during a visit to the Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims' Welfare Board and an inspection of facilities at the camp on Tuesday. He explained that the visit was aimed at identifying areas requiring urgent intervention ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage.
Adekanmbi stressed the importance of putting critical infrastructure in place at both the airport and the Hajj Camp before the scheduled assessment by regulatory bodies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. According to him, meeting the required standards would fast-track approval for international operations tied to the pilgrimage.
He further pledged personal support towards the renovation of essential facilities, pending approval and funding from Governor Seyi Makinde. He also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that intending pilgrims from Oyo State can depart directly from the Ibadan airport.
The committee chairman urged the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board to submit its proposals promptly to enable immediate commencement of renovation works.
In his response, Chairman of the Board, Wahab Atere Hashim Olamide, commended the state government and the committee for the ongoing upgrade of the airport, describing the pace of work as impressive. He noted that the Board’s progress so far has been largely due to the sustained support of the Makinde administration.
Atere also highlighted the Board’s achievements and challenges, while appreciating Adekanmbi for his commitment to improving facilities for pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj exercise.