A major milestone has been recorded in the history of Zamfara State as the state witnessed its first-ever test flight at the newly developed Gusau International Airport.
Governor Dauda Lawal expressed excitement and pride after witnessing the historic landing of the maiden flight at the airport on Sunday evening.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the test aircraft touched down at exactly 4:30 p.m., marking the first successful flight operation at the facility.
The aircraft used for the test was a Bombardier Challenger 605, operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-FGZ, conducted a one-off assessment flight to evaluate the airport’s readiness for VIP flight movements expected next week.
The spokesperson explained that the test flight followed the guidelines of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 12.1.4.1(c). Prior to the flight, the state government sought and obtained approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which issued a one-time “No Technical Objection” (NTO) allowing the aircraft to land at the airport.
The operation was carried out under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), meaning the aircraft was permitted to operate strictly between sunrise and sunset for safety reasons.
Observers say the successful test flight represents a historic breakthrough for Zamfara State, which had operated without an airport for over three decades since its creation.
For Governor Lawal’s administration, the development is seen as a major step toward improving transportation, economic opportunities, and connectivity for the state.
The successful landing has therefore been described as a symbol of progress, signaling that the Gusau International Airport is gradually moving closer to full operational status.
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