The manager of Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, Captain Dapo Olumide, has revealed that the delay in the airport’s operations is due to efforts to secure an operating permit, which surpasses the standard Aerodrome Certificate used by most airports in Nigeria.
Speaking during a visit by the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) to the facility on Monday, Olumide explained that the airport is striving to achieve the ENCAS 2023 certification. This certification imposes more stringent requirements than the Aerodrome Certificate, making it the first airport in Nigeria to meet this standard.
“There are questions about why it’s taking so long. While an airport can be built in six months, we chose to focus on attaining an operating permit instead of just an Aerodrome Certificate. This process ensures higher standards, which is why it’s taking longer,” Olumide said.
He also noted that the airport is part of a broader Aerotropolis master plan, which includes hotels, amusement parks, and cinemas. Once completed, the airport will serve as an ideal alternative for flight diversions during adverse weather, offering passengers a quick route to Lagos through pre-arranged buses.
Ogun State’s Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, highlighted the airport’s strategic location within a special agricultural processing zone, emphasizing its significance as a legacy project for Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, added that the airport is 95–98% complete, with infrastructure such as the runway and fire station ready. Approval for chartered flights has already been secured, and the airport awaits clearance from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for commercial operations.
Following an inspection, members of the LAAC praised the airport’s design and facilities, rating it among the best in Nigeria. They commended the governor’s visionary leadership, describing the project as a forward-thinking initiative for the South-West region.