History was made in Ogun State on Tuesday as Governor Dapo Abiodun inaugurated the first commercial flight operations at the Gateway International Airport, Ilishan Remo.
The inaugural commercial service was operated by Valuejet, with a flight carrying 90 passengers and registered as 5N-BXS, which departed the airport at 10:10 a.m. heading to Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the airport located along the Iperu-Ilisan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area, Abiodun stated that the realization of the airport, which began construction in late 2021, is a key component of his administration’s vision for a comprehensive transport system in the state.
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“I am glad to be here today to actually witness the inaugural flight of a commercial aircraft taking off from Ogun State; this is not like AI, this is real,” the governor remarked.
He reflected on the doubts and criticisms the project initially faced, with some dismissing it as a ‘photo op’ or a ‘dump site.’
The governor highlighted that the first aircraft, also a Valuejet plane, landed on the runway in February 2023 for a test flight.
He stressed the rigor involved in transitioning from simply building an airport to achieving full operational status within a highly regulated industry.
Abiodun emphasised his government’s commitment to ensuring the airport is well-constructed, equipped, and befitting of a state that is the industrial capital and fastest-growing economy in Nigeria.
He noted that the airport is strategically located in an ‘Aerotropolis,’ a business hub already home to the biggest textile plant globally and the Nigeria Customs Village.
“This airport makes sense; it ticks the box of our multimodal transport master plan where we connect roads to rail to air, and soon, we will be connected to the sea,” he added.
He extended gratitude to the aviation regulators, particularly the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, for their supervision.
The Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide praised the governor.
He noted that the airport is a fulfillment of the state’s founding fathers’ aspirations and would serve as a “window to the outside world.” He projected significant economic gains and increased convenience for residents.
Captain Chris Ona-Najomo, the Director General of the NCAA, commended the state government for adhering to all regulatory requirements and expressed satisfaction with the project.
He also pledged future support, especially for the launch of international flight operations.
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Gboyega Isiaka, a member of the House of Representatives, urged industrialists to utilize the new infrastructure for their businesses.
The event was also attended by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Umar, and other key officials from the aviation sector.
