Commercial operations commence at Ogun Gateway Airport
Commercial operations commence at Ogun Gateway Airport
The newly constructed Gateway International Airport in Ogun State officially commenced commercial operations on Tuesday morning, receiving its first passenger flight despite heavy rainfall.
The milestone event, broadcast live by TVC News, signaled the start of scheduled commercial services at the state-owned facility. Passengers were seen lining up for check-in at the airport’s terminal, undeterred by the rain, as they prepared to board the inaugural ValueJet flight to Abuja.
Last month, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, had announced the commencement of ticket sales for the Abuja route, with flights scheduled to operate every Tuesday and Thursday.
For the Return flight, Value Jet will depart the Nnamdi Azikiwe International, Abuja at 4pm every Tuesday and Thursday and arrive at GWI at 5:15 p.m.,” he said.
Yesterday, Governor Dapo Abiodun said he received the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Najomo, in Abeokuta to discuss ongoing reforms in the aviation sector and the role GWI will play in Ogun development.
“We reiterated our administration’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance as we prepare for full-scale commercial flight operations at the airport,” Abiodun said.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, in August, announced that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had granted the Gateway International Airport (GWI) its Aerodrome Operational Permits, signifying the start of commercial operations at the facility.
Abiodun described the achievement as a historic milestone, not just for Ogun State but for Nigeria as a whole. He noted that this was the first time a newly constructed airport in the country had been certified under the current regulatory standards.
According to the governor, the NCAA’s approval followed a rigorous technical inspection, on-site verification, and comprehensive audit of the airport’s facilities. The agency reportedly commended the Gateway International Airport as a benchmark for future aviation projects in Nigeria, highlighting its modern infrastructure and operational readiness.
The permit designates the airport with an Aerodrome Reference Code of 3C and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) Category 6 rating. It authorizes daytime flight operations from sunrise to sunset, featuring a non-precision approach for Runway 05/23 and compatibility with Area Navigation (RNAV) procedures.
