KEY POINTS
- The Gateway International Airport marks a new phase for Ogun.
- Governor Abiodun says vision and passion drove the project.
- The airport is one of Nigeria’s fastest to be completed.
Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday unveiled commercial operations at the Gateway International Airport in Iperu-Ilishan, Ogun State, a project he said embodies his administration’s drive to make the state a transport and investment hub.
From ribbon cutting to the water cannon salute, the event glowed with pride and symbolism. The governor arrived at 8:11 a.m., beaming as he declared the facility open for flights, calling it “a product of vision and passion.”
Fastest-built airport reflects Ogun’s ambition
The Gateway International Airport project began in 2021 and reached completion within two years, one of Nigeria’s quickest airport developments. The first commercial flight, ValueJet’s Bombardier CRJ-900, departed for Abuja at 10:07 a.m. with a full load of passengers, including aviation regulators and state officials.
Governor Abiodun said the project fulfilled his plan for a multimodal transportation system linking air, land, and industrial infrastructure. “When vision meets passion, the result is what you see here,” he said.
The airport’s facilities include a cargo warehouse, control tower, runway lights, and an instrument landing system that aviation officials described as “among the best in the country.”
Ogun residents hail project, seek better roads
While many residents celebrated the launch, others urged the government to fix deteriorating roads leading to the airport. “It’s a milestone, but bad roads may frustrate travellers,” one resident said.
Despite the concerns, the launch drew applause from business leaders and aviation experts, who described it as a model for state-led infrastructure projects. Abiodun said the facility would attract investment and boost economic activity in Ogun State.
