Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport Set To Launch Commercial Operations.
The Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport in Ogun State is poised to commence commercial operations following the anticipated issuance of its official licence this week, according to Governor Dapo Abiodun. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the state’s ambitious aviation project, designed to bolster Nigeria’s economic landscape and alleviate pressure on Lagos’s congested Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Located along the Ilisan-Iperu axis in Ikenne Local Government Area, the airport has undergone rigorous inspections by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Regulatory officials, during a recent visit, praised the facility’s world-class infrastructure, including its 4-kilometre runway—one of the longest in West Africa—capable of accommodating large aircraft such as Boeing 747s and Airbus A330s. The airport is equipped with advanced systems like Category I approach lighting and Precision Approach Path Indicators, ensuring operational efficiency and safety.
Governor Abiodun highlighted that the NCAA’s forthcoming certification is unprecedented in Nigeria, positioning the airport as a benchmark for aviation standards in the country. “The approval that your airport will get, no other airports in Nigeria have that approval,” he quoted NCAA officials as saying. The facility, already 98% complete, has been certified fit for both passenger and cargo services, with initial flights planned to connect Ogun to Abuja and Port Harcourt. International cargo operations are also on the horizon, with a British company scheduled to operate two weekly flights from London to facilitate agricultural exports.
The airport, which began construction in 2021 under Abiodun’s administration, has already seen charter flights commence in 2024, with ValueJet operating the first commercial flight in February 2023. Its strategic location, 80 kilometres from Lagos and linked by major highways, positions it as an alternative hub for diverted flights and a key player in Nigeria’s agro-export market. The project is part of a broader vision to create an aerotropolis, incorporating a special agro-processing zone and a nearby Kajola Dry Port to enhance trade and logistics.
Ogun State officials, including Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Ade Akinsanya, expressed pride in the project’s progress, noting that the recent regulatory endorsement is the final hurdle before full commercial operations. The airport is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost internal revenue, and attract investment through its integration with free trade zones offering customs and tax incentives.
Analysts view the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport as a transformative development for Ogun State, with the potential to elevate its economic profile and reduce congestion at Lagos’s aviation and port facilities. As the state awaits the formal licensing announcement, the project stands as a testament to Governor Abiodun’s commitment to positioning Ogun as a leading investment destination in Nigeria.