(DDM) – Ogun State is set to make aviation history as the long-awaited Gateway International Airport prepares to welcome its first-ever commercial flight on October 7, 2025, marking a major milestone in the state’s infrastructural transformation under Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the airport, located in the Iperu, Ilishan axis, is fully licensed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and will begin operations with a ValueJet Airlines inaugural flight.
The new facility is equipped with a four-kilometer runway, modern air traffic control towers, cargo terminals, and passenger lounges, all designed to position Ogun as a key logistics hub in Nigeria’s southwest.
Governor Abiodun described the project as a “symbol of our collective future,” emphasizing that the Gateway International Airport would not only enhance connectivity but also accelerate economic diversification, industrial growth, and tourism in the state.
The governor’s vision for the project reportedly dates back decades, inspired by the legendary leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose transformative governance in the old Western Region motivated Abiodun to pursue ambitious developmental projects.
For years, Ogun State was often viewed as a transit corridor between Lagos and Ibadan, but with the completion of this international airport, it is now poised to become a destination of choice, a hub for commerce, technology, and agriculture.
According to reports, the airport’s construction initially drew skepticism, with critics questioning its feasibility and economic viability.
However, Abiodun’s administration pressed on, citing the project as a cornerstone of Ogun’s long-term master plan to attract investment and create jobs.
Today, the once-debated vision has become a reality, and expectations are high.
Local entrepreneurs and hospitality businesses are gearing up to accommodate the expected surge in visitors, while transportation and trade sectors anticipate a major boost.
The airport’s proximity to the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) is expected to further stimulate agricultural exports by providing farmers with direct access to global markets.
Experts project that the new air corridor will cut logistics costs, encourage private investment, and position Ogun as an export-driven economy.
Beyond economic gains, the Gateway International Airport stands as a testament to resilience and leadership.
The project reflects Abiodun’s determination to continue the progressive legacy of Awolowo, using visionary governance to transform lives and create opportunities.
As preparations for the inaugural flight reach their final phase, the sense of anticipation across Ogun State is palpable.
Communities surrounding the airport are witnessing new infrastructure, including roads, power installations, and commercial centers springing up in record time.
“The Gateway International Airport is not just a physical structure,” Abiodun said in a statement. “It is a promise fulfilled, a bridge between the past and the future, between dreams and reality.”
The project also reinforces Ogun’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most economically strategic states.
By establishing an international airport, the state government has taken a decisive step toward reducing dependence on Lagos for global air connectivity, thereby opening new corridors for trade and investment.
As the engines prepare to roar and the first ValueJet aircraft lifts into the skies, the moment will symbolize more than the beginning of flight operations, it will represent the dawn of a new era for Ogun State, one defined by innovation, ambition, and limitless potential.
With the Gateway International Airport, Ogun is no longer waiting for opportunities to arrive; it is creating them.