History was made on Tuesday as the newly built Gateway International Airport (GWI) in Ogun State officially commenced commercial flight operations, marking a major milestone in the state’s aviation and economic development journey.

Despite early morning rain, excited passengers were seen checking in at the airport’s ultra-modern terminal for the inaugural ValueJet flight from Iperu-Remo to Abuja, signaling the start of scheduled passenger services.

According to the Ogun State Government, ValueJet flights will operate every Tuesday and Thursday, departing the Gateway International Airport (GWI) for Abuja in the morning and returning from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by 5:15 p.m. each day.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who received the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, in Abeokuta on Monday, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and efficiency as full-scale operations begin.

 “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,” the governor stated.

The airport received its Aerodrome Operational Permit from the NCAA in August 2025, following rigorous technical inspections, on-site verification, and operational audits. The NCAA commended GWI as a model for future aviation infrastructure in Nigeria, citing its modern design, safety compliance, and operational readiness.

The newly certified facility has been assigned an Aerodrome Reference Code of 3C and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) Category 6 rating, allowing it to handle medium-size commercial aircraft. Operations are currently daytime only (sunrise to sunset), using a non-precision approach for Runway 05/23 with Area Navigation (RNAV) support.

Governor Abiodun described the milestone as “a historic first”, noting that it is the first time a newly constructed airport in Nigeria has received NCAA certification under the current regulatory framework.