Zamfara State governor Dauda Lawal, on Sunday expressed excitement over the historic test-run at the Gusau International Airport.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the test flight landed at the airport at exactly 4:30 p.m. The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605 operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, performed a one-off test to assess the airport’s readiness for VIP movements scheduled next week.
The statement read in part, “Today will remain a historic day in the history of Zamfara as Governor Lawal witnessed the landing of the maiden flight at the Gusau International Airport. The aircraft with registration 5N-FGZ performed the test in accordance with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 12.1.4.1(c).”
Before the test, the state government requested permission from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which granted a one-off ‘No Technical Objection’ (NTO) for the aircraft to land. The operation was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), strictly between sunrise and sunset.
The historic flight is a major milestone for Governor Lawal’s administration, particularly since Zamfara has lacked an airport for over 30 years. The government is constructing the Gusau International Airport, with operations scheduled to commence by March 2026. The smart airport project includes a runway, terminal building, and control tower, expected to boost economic activity and investment in the state.
The airport project was flagged off on June 21, 2024, by the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, alongside Governor Dauda Lawal, as part of the International Cargo Airport initiative.
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