History was made on Tuesday as the Gateway International Airport (GWI) in Ogun State officially began commercial flight operations, signaling a bold new chapter in the state’s infrastructural and economic development drive.

The inaugural ValueJet flight took off from the airport’s ultra-modern terminal in Iperu-Remo to Abuja amid cheers from passengers and aviation officials, despite an early morning downpour. The development officially places Ogun State on Nigeria’s aviation map for the first time.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who earlier hosted the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, described the milestone as a “historic first,” emphasizing that it marks the beginning of a new era for air travel, investment, and logistics in the Southwest.

“We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance as full commercial operations commence,” the governor said, reaffirming his administration’s focus on positioning Ogun as a key economic hub.

According to the state government, ValueJet will operate scheduled passenger services every Tuesday and Thursday, with flights departing from Iperu-Remo to Abuja in the morning and returning from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 5:15 p.m.

The NCAA, which granted GWI its Aerodrome Operational Permit in August 2025 after rigorous inspections and audits, lauded the airport as a model for future aviation infrastructure in Nigeria. The facility boasts a 3C Aerodrome Reference Code and an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) Category 6 rating, making it capable of handling medium-sized commercial aircraft.

Operations will initially be limited to daytime flights (sunrise to sunset) using a non-precision RNAV approach on Runway 05/23.

Aviation analysts say the launch of commercial operations at GWI could significantly boost Ogun State’s investment profile, ease passenger movement between Lagos and neighboring states, and strengthen regional connectivity.

With the takeoff of the inaugural flight, Ogun State has effectively joined the league of states operating functional airports — an achievement Governor Abiodun says reflects his administration’s “resolve to turn vision into verifiable legacy.”