Ogun State’s newly built Gateway International Airport in Iperu is poised to commence commercial flight operations on the Abuja route beginning October 7, 2025, with Nigerian carrier ValueJet scheduled to launch twice-weekly service between the airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The flights from Gateway will depart on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving Iperu at 8:30 am and arriving in Abuja at about 9:45 am.
The return leg is scheduled to depart Abuja at 4:00 pm and land back in Iperu by 5:15 pm.
The airport, which was officially commissioned on August 15, 2025, holds an Aerodrome Operational Permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Its runway is 4,000 metres long and 60 metres wide — dimensions that enable the facility to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350.
According to Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, regulatory agencies have given the green light for the airport to begin full-scale operations, and the ValueJet flights mark the first scheduled commercial utilization of the facility.
“Tickets for the new flights were made available starting September 25 through ValueJet’s website, travel agents, and physical ticket desks at Gateway International Airport,” he said.
For ValueJet, the new route is part of a broader expansion plan.
Capt. Omololu Majekodunmi, Managing Director of ValueJet, noted that the airline is responding to growing demand in Ogun State while offering travellers an alternative to the often congested airports in Lagos and Ibadan.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the Gateway facility’s location — near the Sagamu Interchange along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway — which could bolster both passenger travel options and cargo logistics.
The Ogun State Government has described this development as a significant milestone, expecting that Gateway International Airport will stimulate trade, investment, tourism, and regional connectivity.
Once operations begin, the airport aims to complement the service provided by Lagos and Ibadan airports and to position Ogun as a growing hub in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
