President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday commissioned the Gateway International Airport in Iperu-Ilishan, Ogun State, describing the project as a major economic boost and a testament to purposeful leadership under Governor Dapo Abiodun.
At the event, which also featured the launch of Gateway Airline, Tinubu said the airport represents a strategic infrastructure that will drive growth, enhance connectivity and position Ogun as a key economic hub in the country.
“Today, we commissioned the economic nerve centre of our corridor,” the President said, noting that Abiodun had shown “commitment, vision and patriotism” in less than seven years in office.
Tinubu added that he had no regrets supporting the governor, stressing that increased federal allocations were being put to effective use. According to him, “I congratulate the people of this great state for supporting a government that is delivering measurable progress.”
The President also linked the airport project to broader investments in energy, agriculture and transportation, including the introduction of electric bikes, which he described as “a smart response to modern transportation needs.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who attended the ceremony, described the airport as a landmark achievement, revealing that it has already improved travel time to his hometown.
“I’ve landed here from Abuja, and it took me 45 minutes from here to my home, which is at least 25 minutes shorter than if I had landed in Lagos,” Obasanjo said, adding that he was proud to witness what he called a historic milestone in Ogun State’s development.
He commended Abiodun for making the state proud, noting that such projects were unimaginable decades ago when Ogun was created.
Also speaking, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised both Tinubu’s economic reforms and Abiodun’s infrastructural strides. He said the President’s policies had helped states meet key obligations, including salary payments, while enabling development projects like the new airport.
In his remarks, Governor Abiodun said the airport and the newly launched airline were part of a broader strategy to maximise Ogun’s proximity to Lagos and close critical infrastructure gaps.
He credited Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for restoring investor confidence, saying Nigeria is gradually reclaiming its position as a preferred investment destination.
“When we assumed office, we knew that to unlock Ogun’s potential, we had to invest heavily in infrastructure and improve trade mobility,” he said.
The governor disclosed that his administration had constructed or rehabilitated over 1,600 kilometres of roads, delivered more than 7,000 affordable homes, and expanded healthcare with the development of a 200-bed medical facility aimed at reducing medical tourism abroad.
Abiodun added that investments in power, agriculture and security were also being intensified to sustain growth, noting that the state’s economic expansion was driven by deliberate and consistent policies.
The high-profile event attracted several governors, ministers, business leaders and top government officials, underscoring the significance of the airport and airline project to Nigeria’s aviation and economic landscape.
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