Ogun State Government has announced that Value Jet Airline will, from October 7, 2025, commence passenger flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the newly constructed Gateway International Airport in Ilisan-Iperu Remo Road.
According to the PUNCH, Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, stated that this development comes after regulatory agencies gave the airport the green light.
Akinmade explained the flight schedule, stating, “According to the flight schedule, every Tuesday and Thursday, the airline will operate the GWI-Abuja route, departing GWI at 8:30 am and arriving Abuja at 9:45 am. On the return flight, Value Jet will depart Nnamdi Azikiwe International, Abuja at 4:00 pm and arrive GWI at 5:15 pm.”
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He added, “A statement released by the airline indicates that tickets will be available from Thursday, September 25, online, through travel agents, and at ticket desks at the Gateway International Airport.”
Highlighting the impact on travelers, Akinmade noted, “With the announcement, many travellers based in Ibadan, across Ogun State, and in Abuja and Lagos will have connectivity by air to Abuja and Lagos and beyond via Ogun State, while enjoying the added benefit of unbeatable facilities at GWI.
Members of the business and industrial sectors, contractors, bankers, government officials, and leisure travellers, among others, are particularly eager to take off and arrive at GWI, from where they can easily connect to Lagos and other parts of the country.”
In August, Governor Abiodun confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had granted Aerodrome Operational Permits to the state-owned GWI, marking the official commencement of commercial operations. He described the achievement as a historic milestone for both Ogun State and Nigeria.
Abiodun explained that this is the first instance of a newly constructed airport in Nigeria receiving certification under current regulatory standards. The NCAA’s approval followed extensive technical inspections, on-site verification, and a thorough audit of the airport’s facilities.
The governor revealed that NCAA officials praised GWI as a model for future aviation infrastructure in Nigeria, citing its modern facilities and operational readiness. The permit grants the airport an Aerodrome Reference Code of 3C and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) Category 6 rating.
Reports by PUNCH shows that the airport will operate daytime flights from sunrise to sunset, featuring a non-precision approach for Runway 05/23 and support for Area Navigation procedures.
Abiodun further disclosed that a global logistics company has committed to operating two weekly cargo flights between London and GWI. He stated, “I had a meeting on Sunday with a company that wants to be flying two cargo flights from London to this airport on a weekly basis. We would also have flights going from here to Abuja and to Port Harcourt at startup.”
The governor emphasized GWI’s strategic importance, noting that the airport has been designated as an alternate landing site for Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, enhancing its domestic and international significance.
Passenger flight operations are set to begin soon, with initial direct routes to Abuja and Port Harcourt. Governor Abiodun stressed that the airport is positioned to drive trade, investment, and tourism in the region.
“With world-class infrastructure, international connectivity, and a strategic location, the Gateway International Airport will raise the bar for air travel in Nigeria and serve as a proud symbol of Ogun State’s progress. When the NCAA officials came last week, they came to congratulate me here. They said that by the grace of God, this airport will be approved, and the approval this airport will get has never been given to any airport in Nigeria. Your airport has now become a benchmark for what an airport should be in Nigeria. Yes, that was what they told me. This airport will now become an alternative airport to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos,” he concluded.
