Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday inaugurated the first commercial flight at Gateway International Airport, Ilishan Remo, marking a historic milestone for the state’s aviation and transport sector.
The aircraft, operated by Valuejet with registration number 5N-BXS and carrying 90 passengers, departed the airport at 10:10 a.m. en route to Abuja.
Speaking at the airport along the Iperu-Ilisan Road in Ikenne Local Government Area, Governor Abiodun traced the journey to actualize the airport to 2021, noting it is part of his administration’s vision to provide a well-structured, multimodal transport system for Ogun State.
“I am glad to be here today to witness the inaugural flight of a commercial aircraft taking off from Ogun State; this is real. Commercial operations are starting from Ogun State within the lifetime of an administration,” he said.
Governor Abiodun recalled the skepticism surrounding the project. “Some people said it was just a photo op, they mocked us, and some even said we were going to use this place as a cattle ranch. But today, we have proven what vision, collective effort, inclusive participation, passion, and diligence can achieve,” he added.
He revealed that the runway was first tested in February 2023 by the same Valuejet aircraft. “Building an airport is one thing; having it become operational is another because aviation is a highly regulated industry,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the state’s industrial and demographic growth, Abiodun said the airport is strategically located in an Aerotropolis, surrounded by businesses, including the world’s largest textile plant and the Nigeria Customs Village.
“More people are coming to live, work, and play in Ogun State. This airport makes sense; it ticks the box of our multimodal transport master plan, connecting roads, rail, and air, and soon, we will be connected to the sea,” he said.
The governor also appreciated aviation regulators, particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for their oversight and quality supervision.
In a separate interview, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, said the airport fulfills the dreams of the state’s founding fathers.
“This place was a refuse dump, but now it is a world-class airport. It will bring economic gains and reduce the hassle of traveling via Lagos,” he said.
Hon. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, representing Imeko-Afon-Yewa North at the House of Representatives, urged industrialists to leverage the airport for business growth and called for public support for the project.
The Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Ona-Najomo, commended the state government for adhering to regulatory standards and expressed readiness to support future international operations.
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Umar, and other aviation officials were also present at the ceremony.
