The newly established Gateway International Airport (GWI) in Ogun State welcomed its inaugural commercial flight on Tuesday morning, despite heavy rainfall affecting the area.
The historic event, covered live by TVC News, marked the official launch of scheduled passenger services at the state-owned airport.
Travelers were observed lining up at the terminal, braving the rain as they prepared to board the first flight to Abuja, operated by ValueJet.
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Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, had revealed last month that tickets for flights to Abuja were on sale, with departures scheduled every Tuesday and Thursday.
“For the return flight, ValueJet will leave Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, arriving at GWI at 5:15 p.m.,” he confirmed.
Yesterday, Governor Dapo Abiodun hosted the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, in Abeokuta to discuss reforms in the aviation sector and the airport’s contribution to Ogun State’s development.
“We reiterated our administration’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance as we prepare for full commercial flight operations at the airport,” Abiodun stated.
In August, Governor Abiodun announced that the NCAA had granted GWI Aerodrome Operational Permits, officially allowing the airport to commence commercial operations.
Abiodun described the development as a historic achievement, noting that it is the first time a newly built airport in Nigeria has received such certification under current regulatory guidelines.
According to PUNCH, the NCAA’s approval came after extensive technical inspections, on-site evaluations, and audits. The agency commended the airport as a model for future aviation projects in Nigeria, highlighting its state-of-the-art facilities and readiness for operations.
The permit assigned GWI an Aerodrome Reference Code of 3C and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) Category 6 rating.
The airport will handle daytime flights from sunrise to sunset, offering a non-precision approach for Runway 05/23 and supporting Area Navigation (RNAV) procedures.
