Governor Dauda Lawal on Sunday witnessed the maiden flight into Gusau International Airport, marking a historic milestone for Zamfara State, which has lacked an operational airport since its creation more than three decades ago.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the test flight operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, touched down at exactly 4:30 p.m.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605 with registration 5N-FGZ, carried out a one-off assessment to evaluate the airport’s readiness for VIP movements scheduled for next week.
Describing the moment as historic, Governor Lawal said the successful landing underscored a major step forward in the state’s development.
“Today will remain a landmark day in the history of Zamfara State as we witnessed the maiden landing at Gusau International Airport,” he said. “The flight was conducted to assess the airport’s capability ahead of upcoming VIP operations.”
The statement noted that the test flight complied with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 12.1.4.1(c). Prior approval was obtained from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which granted a one-off “No Technical Objection” (NTO) for the landing.
It further explained that the operation was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), limited strictly to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset.
The successful test flight is being seen as a significant boost for the Lawal administration, signalling tangible progress on a long-awaited infrastructure project in a state that has struggled with accessibility for decades.
In April 2025, the governor had announced that the airport was nearing completion and would soon become operational. He stressed that the project is critical to improving connectivity and attracting investment to Zamfara.
Lawal highlighted the challenges faced by investors travelling to the state, noting that the journey from Abuja can take up to seven hours by road, often discouraging potential business opportunities.
With the airport now approaching full operation, officials believe it could transform access to Zamfara and open up new economic prospects.
