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Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal on Sunday witnessed the first aircraft landing at Gusau International Airport, marking a major milestone for Zamfara, which has lacked an operational airport since its creation over three decades ago.
In a statement from his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the test flight operated by the Nigerian Government touched down at about 4:30 p.m.
The aircraft, identified as a Bombardier Challenger 605, carried out a one-off assessment to evaluate the airport’s readiness for planned VIP movements.
Lawal described the development as historic, noting that the landing marked a significant step forward for the state’s aviation infrastructure.
He explained that the test was conducted to determine the airport’s capability to handle high-level flights expected in the coming days.
“Today will remain a historic day in the history of Zamfara State as Governor Lawal witnessed the landing of the maiden flight at the Gusau International Airport.
“The aircraft with registration 5N-FGZ performed a one-off test to assess the airport’s capability for VIP movements scheduled next week.”
According to the statement, the operation was carried out in line with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, following approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which granted a one-time clearance for the landing.
“Before the test flight, the state government requested permission from the NCAA, and the Authority granted a one-off ‘No Technical Objection’ (NTO) for the Aircraft to land in Gusau.”
It added that the flight operated under Visual Flight Rules, meaning it was conducted within daylight hours.
It further stated that the successful test flight shows progress in making the airport fully operational.
The project is expected to improve accessibility to Zamfara, where long and often difficult road journeys, particularly from Abuja, have discouraged investment.
Officials say the airport, once completed, will enhance connectivity and support economic activities in the state.
