Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday officially inaugurated the first commercial flight at Gateway International Airport, Ilishan Remo, marking a milestone in the state’s transport infrastructure. The Valuejet aircraft, carrying 90 passengers, departed for Abuja at 10:10 a.m.
The governor, speaking at the airport along Iperu-Ilisan Road in Ikenne Local Government Area, said the project, which began in 2021, reflects his administration’s vision to provide a modern, well-integrated transport system. “Commercial operations are starting from Ogun State in the lifetime of an administration,” Abiodun said, adding that critics had dismissed the project as a photo opportunity or political gimmick.
He emphasized that the airport is part of a broader multimodal transport master plan connecting roads, rail, air, and eventually, the sea. Abiodun noted that the airport is located in an Aerotropolis with major industrial investments nearby, including the world’s largest textile plant and the Nigeria Customs Village.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, praised the project, noting that it would open a “window to the outside world” and reduce travel inconvenience for residents who previously had to rely on Lagos airports. Similarly, Hon. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, representing Imeko-Afon-Yewa North in the House of Representatives, urged industrialists to leverage the economic opportunities the airport presents.
Officials from the aviation sector, including NCAA Director General Captain Chris Ona-Najomo and NAMA Managing Director Farouk Umar, commended the state government for meeting regulatory requirements and expressed support for future expansion, including international flights.
Governor Abiodun concluded that the airport is a product of vision, inclusive participation, and diligence, promising that Ogun State will continue to build world-class infrastructure to support its status as Nigeria’s fastest-growing economy.