Gateway Airport launches Abuja route.
Gateway Airport launches Abuja route.
The Ogun State Government has revealed that the Gateway International Airport in Iperu will welcome its first commercial flight on October 7, 2025, with Nigerian airline ValueJet launching scheduled services from the newly inaugurated facility.
In a statement issued on Friday, the government announced that ValueJet will operate twice-weekly flights on the Ogun–Abuja route. Flights will depart from Gateway International Airport every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m., arriving in Abuja at 9:45 a.m. The return leg from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will take off at 4:00 p.m., landing in Iperu at 5:15 p.m.
The airport, inaugurated on August 15, 2025, already holds an Aerodrome Operational Permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. With a 4,000-metre-long and 60-metre-wide runway—among the longest and widest in West Africa—it can accommodate wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Kayode Akinmade, noted that the launch of ValueJet flights confirms that the airport has secured “regulatory approval” to commence full-scale operations.
Tickets for the new flights became available on September 25, according to ValueJet. They can be purchased online via the airline’s website, through travel agents, and at ticket desks at the Gateway International Airport.
The airline’s Managing Director, Capt Omololu Majekodunmi, explained that the launch aligns with ValueJet’s broader expansion strategy. “As part of our expansion programme, we are serving the growing demand in Ogun while offering an alternative to Lagos and Ibadan for passengers in the Gateway International Airport catchment area,” he said.
Majekodunmi highlighted the strategic importance of GWI’s location. Situated near the Sagamu Interchange and along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the airport is well-positioned to serve both passenger travel and cargo logistics. He added that the development provides relief to travelers who previously depended on the congested Lagos and Ibadan airports.
The ValueJet boss noted that the airline’s growth in the past three years has been driven by customer loyalty, strategic partnerships, and a firm commitment to safety and service quality.
He assured travelers that ValueJet will deliver safe, reliable, and competitively priced services
on the new route.
“Our operations from Gateway International Airport mark a milestone not just for the airline but for Ogun State as well. We look forward to connecting more Nigerians through this modern facility,” Majekodunmi added.
The Ogun State Government has hailed the commencement of flight operations at the Gateway International Airport as a major economic milestone. The facility is projected to boost trade, attract investment, and promote tourism across the state, while enhancing travel options for residents and businesses alike.
With commercial services now underway, the airport is poised to grow into a strategic aviation hub in the southwest, complementing airports in Lagos and Ibadan and strengthening Ogun’s role in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
