Tinubu to Commission Ogun State Gateway International Airport on Saturday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday commission the Gateway International Airport in Ogun State and unveil Gateway Air, the new state-owned airline.

The visit, originally fixed for Thursday but rescheduled, will also see the formal launch of cargo operations at the facility located in Iperu.

NaijaChoice News gathered that the programme goes beyond the airport inauguration, as the president will flag off the airline’s maiden operations with two newly acquired aircraft.

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration has positioned the project as a major addition to Ogun’s transport infrastructure. The two aircraft will be managed by ValueJet, the same operator that ran the airport’s first commercial flight to Abuja last October.

Gateway International Airport in Ogun State. To be commissioned by Tinubu tomorrow pic.twitter.com/je6WwqoGRD

— Adebisichoice (@adebisichoice) April 3, 2026

State officials say the airline and cargo facility form part of a deliberate push to turn Ogun into a logistics and investment destination. The airport, with its long runway and modern terminals, sits in an area already attracting industries and businesses.

Abiodun has repeatedly described the development as a fulfilment of his administration’s multimodal transport plan linking roads, rail and air.

The Saturday event comes weeks after the governor inspected the facility to confirm readiness for full international and domestic operations.

Officials expect the new airline to create jobs, ease movement of goods and people, and open fresh opportunities for the state’s growing population.

Ogun, long known as Nigeria’s industrial capital, now adds aviation strength to its economy. The cargo section is expected to handle exports and imports more efficiently, reducing pressure on Lagos airports.

The state government described the twin development as another bold step under the “Building Our Future Together” agenda.

Tinubu’s presence is seen as strong federal backing for the project, which many residents view as a game-changer for the South-West region.