By Atoyebi Nike
The newly constructed Gateway International Airport (GWI) in Ogun State recorded a historic milestone on Tuesday morning as it welcomed its first commercial flight, despite heavy rainfall.
The inaugural flight, operated by ValueJet to Abuja, marked the start of scheduled passenger services from the state-owned airport. Passengers were seen queuing for check-in at the terminal, braving the weather to be part of the first service, which was captured live by TVC News.
Governor Dapo Abiodun confirmed that ValueJet flights to Abuja will operate every Tuesday and Thursday. Return flights will depart Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:00 p.m. and arrive at GWI by 5:15 p.m.
Speaking on the airport’s role in Ogun’s development, Abiodun noted that he recently hosted the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, to discuss aviation reforms and regulatory compliance.
“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,” he said.
In August, the NCAA granted GWI Aerodrome Operational Permits after a thorough inspection and audit. The airport was awarded an Aerodrome Reference Code of 3C and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) Category 6 rating. It will operate daytime flights with non-precision approaches and support for Area Navigation procedures.
Governor Abiodun described the certification as a historic development for Ogun State and Nigeria, noting that it is the first newly constructed airport to receive such approval under current regulatory standards.
