The Gateway International Airport at Iperu Remo in Ogun State have begun scheduled commercial flights.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, while inaugurating the ValueJet Airlines flight to Abuja on its Bombardier CRJ jet, acknowledged the vision of his predecessors in facilitating the construction of the fastest-built airport terminal in the country.
Abiodun described the choice of the location of the airport as strategic and essential in driving the economic development of the Gateway State, The Nation reported.
The governor lauded the efforts of the team that delivered the facility, saying such a project would boost the socio-economic development of the state.
He praised aviation authorities, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), for ensuring the regulatory requirements were complied with. Abiodun also hailed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, and his team, as well as other aviation regulatory bodies, for ensuring that the best was put together to accomplish the objective.
He said: “Our vision for Ogun State, which we have encapsulated, is to provide a focused and cohesive governance, while creating an enabling environment for public-private sector partnership, which we believe is fundamental to the economic growth of the state and the individual prosperity of every citizen of Ogun State.
“In short, that vision clearly aims to bring more people to live, work, and play in Ogun State. So, in helping us to actualise that vision, we were advised on how we must ensure that our multi-modal transportation connects road, rail, air, and water.
“This location had been chosen by my predecessors. But, they again confirmed, because they wanted to be passionate about the location of the airport. They again confirmed and validated the fact that this is indeed the location for an airport in the state.
“Being almost at the centre point of the state, we came back here and noticed that the land had been encroached on and had become a dump site. It was a forest. Today, the journey that started in 2021, and that evolved into the first plane that landed here after the construction of our runway, sometime in February 2023, two years afterwards. It has made us one of the fastest-constructed airports…”
Also, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, hailed the Ogun State government for the project.
He noted that the airport would add value to the aviation ecosystem.
Najomo said, “He started this thing in 2021. Now, this is the fastest one we have seen in the creation of airports. As a regulator, we made sure that everything was done according to regulations. As such, we did not leave any stone unturned.
“If other states want to do the same, they must make sure they take value from what Ogun State has done. It is one thing to start a project, but it is another to see it through and ensure that regulations are followed.”
Also, the Federal Government has given Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport approval to start scheduled flight operations or commercial flights, effective October 4.
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This followed the expiration of the initial approval for a non-scheduled flight approval for the airport by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in December 2024 and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The NCAA, in the letter dated October 3, 2025, addressed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, confirmed the new approval for scheduled flights. The approval will be for an initial period of six months.
According to the letter signed by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Godwin Balang, the validation inspection was conducted on the airport from June 16 to 19.
“The outcome revealed that the basic operational requirements for scheduled flight operations to Ado-Ekiti Airport have been significantly complied with, and the instrument flight check validation report conducted by NAMA indicates satisfactory compliance with regulatory requirements.
“In view of the above and in line with the provisions of Nig CARs Part 12 Vol. 1, 2023, I have been directed to convey the Authority’s Interim Operational Permit subject to the limitations of VFR or daylight (sunrise to sunset) operations.
“Furthermore, Your Excellency is respectfully invited to note that this interim Operational Permit is to enable Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport to implement outstanding gaps and commence the certification process, which will allow for issuance of Aerodrome Operational Permit with a year’s validity in accordance with the Nig.CARS Part 12 Vol. 1.”
Also, the Ekiti State government has reached an advanced stage of installing the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to position the airport for night and all-weather operations.
Governor Oyebanji has hailed the development as a major boost to the economic development of the state.
He noted that the commencement of commercial operations at the airport would boost agribusiness, tourism development, commercial activities, and medical tourism.
These activities, the governor said, would further position the state as a destination of choice for people looking for where to live, work, invest, and relax.
Oyebanji thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the enabling environment for socioeconomic development at the national and subnational levels. He also thanked his immediate predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who laid the foundation of the airport project in 2019.
The governor also thanked the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for his remarkable contributions to the airport project, as well as members of the Airport Committee.
