‘Ogun Airport Leads W/Africa With Longest Runway’

December 22, (THEWILL) – The Ogun State Government has declared the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport as the best in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, citing its state-of-the-art facilities and the longest runway in the corridor.

The announcement was made during a facility tour and briefing with the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents hosted by key state officials, including the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya; Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo; Airport Manager, Captain Dapo Olumide; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade.
Akinsanya revealed that the airport’s 4-kilometer-long and 60-meter-wide runway, equivalent to 17 lanes of road infrastructure, makes it the longest and largest in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

“The size and length of the runway were deliberately designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 for international operations,” Akinsanya explained.

He added that the airport, currently 95-98% complete, is part of a master plan for an aerotropolis.

He stated, “The total size of the airport is 5,000 hectares, with the first phase covering 900 hectares. Future developments will include hotels, amusement parks, and cinemas to complement the facility.”

Akinsanya assured that the airport is ready for commercial operations once it secures approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Currently, it is approved for chartered flights.

“The runway has been completed for a while, the fire station is ready, and we have three fire tenders, moving our classification from class six to class seven,” he stated.

Captain Dapo Olumide, the Airport Manager, highlighted that once fully operational, the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport will be the first in Nigeria to operate with an *operating permit*, a status more stringent than the traditional Aerodrome Certification.
He explained that the delay in completing the project was due to the government’s decision to achieve this advanced operational status, aligning the airport with the ENCAS 2023 permit standards.

Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Dairo, emphasised the airport’s strategic location within a special agricultural processing zone, one of eight such zones in Nigeria.

Describing the project as a “legacy of Governor Dapo Abiodun,” Dairo noted that it will drive economic growth, enhance trade, and position Ogun State as a hub for agro-cargo and passenger aviation in the sub-region.

The state government remains optimistic about the airport’s potential to redefine aviation standards in West Africa while boosting economic activities and infrastructural development in the region.

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