Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday made history as he inaugurated the first commercial flight at the Gateway International Airport, Ilishan-Remo.
The ValueJet aircraft, with registration number 5N-BXS, carrying 90 passengers, departed the airport at 10:10 a.m. for Abuja — marking the official takeoff of commercial operations at the newly constructed facility.
Speaking at the event held along the Iperu-Ilisan road in Ikenne Local Government Area, Governor Abiodun described the occasion as a fulfillment of his administration’s vision to establish a modern and efficient transport system in Ogun State.
“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. Commercial operations are starting from Ogun State in the lifetime of an administration,” he said.
The governor recalled that construction of the airport began in 2021, adding that despite early criticism and skepticism, the project had now become a testament to focused leadership and collaborative effort.
“We came here in 2021; some people said it was just a photo op, they said it was just politics. Some even said that we were going to use this place as a cattle ranch. But today, we have seen what can be achieved when there is vision, inclusiveness, passion, and diligence,” Abiodun stated.
He noted that while building an airport is one thing, making it operational requires strict adherence to aviation regulations. According to him, ValueJet had been the first airline to test the runway in February 2023, further validating the quality of the airport’s infrastructure.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing a world-class facility, emphasizing Ogun’s status as Nigeria’s industrial capital and one of the nation’s fastest-growing economies.
He explained that the Gateway International Airport is strategically positioned within an emerging Aerotropolis, surrounded by new industrial projects such as a major textile plant and the Nigeria Customs Village.
“It speaks for itself. 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, air, and soon, sea,” Abiodun added.
The governor also commended the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, for their support and supervision throughout the project.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, said the airport aligns with the dreams of the state’s founding fathers and would open Ogun to global opportunities.
“I give it to the governor. This place was a refuse dump, but now it is the site of a world-class airport. There will be economic gains, and it will reduce the hassle of going to Lagos to travel by air,” the Speaker said.
Also speaking, Hon. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, who represents Imeko-Afon/Yewa North Federal Constituency, expressed delight at the project’s completion, urging business owners to leverage the facility to grow their enterprises.
On his part, NCAA Director General, Captain Chris Ona-Najomo, lauded the Ogun State government for meeting all regulatory standards and expressed satisfaction with the airport’s quality and readiness for full operation.