Plane touches down at Zamfara's global airport for the first time in three decades

Governor Dauda Lawal was on hand to witness a major breakthrough for Zamfara State on Sunday, as the maiden flight touched down at Gusau International Airport, marking a significant milestone for a region that has been without a functioning airport for over 30 years.

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This historic event was made possible by a test flight operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which landed at the airport at precisely 4:30 p.m., according to a statement released by the governor's spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris.

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The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605, was utilized to conduct a one-time assessment of the airport's readiness to accommodate VIP movements scheduled to take place the following week.

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As quoted in the statement, Governor Lawal expressed his sentiments, stating that the day of the maiden flight would be etched in the history of Zamfara State, and highlighted that the aircraft, registered as 5N-FGZ, performed a one-off test to evaluate the airport's capabilities.

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The flight was carried out in accordance with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 12.1.4.1(c), and prior to the test, the state government had obtained permission from the NCAA, which granted a one-off 'No Technical Objection' (NTO) for the aircraft to land in Gusau.

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The operation was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), adhering to a strict schedule that only allowed flights from sunrise to sunset.

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The statement underscored the significance of the flight, noting that it has substantially enhanced the reputation of Governor Lawal's administration, particularly given that Zamfara has lacked a functional airport since its creation over 30 years ago.

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In April 2025, it was reported that Governor Lawal had announced the state's airport was nearing completion and was expected to become operational within the next four months.

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Lawal emphasized the importance of the airport in addressing the state's accessibility issues, pointing out the challenges investors face in reaching Zamfara, and noting that the long and perilous journey from Abuja, which can take up to seven hours by road, often deters potential investors from visiting the state.