Gusau Airport: Zamfara’s gateway to security, socio-economic prosperity
“It was a gruelling experience travelling from Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital. I spent nearly five hours covering the 298-kilometre distance because
- By Nuruddeen Ma’aji Abdallah
“It was a gruelling experience travelling from Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital. I spent nearly five hours covering the 298-kilometre distance because of the ongoing road rehabilitation,” Alhaji Muhammad Isma’eel, a businessman, told this journalist.
Travellers connecting to Gusau through Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina, Katsina State, do spend about three hours and 37 minutes covering the 215-kilometre distance, which has been a source of worry for many travellers over the years.
The Gusau International Airport, recently completed and inaugurated by Governor Dauda Lawal, has come as a relief to the likes of Alhaji Isma’eel and hundreds of other businessmen, investors, and the general public.
The airport is one of the many developmental projects executed in the last three years by Governor Lawal as part of his urban renewal revolution.
Aside from expanding business opportunities and deepening the investment landscape, the airport would also significantly aid in the counter-terrorism campaign against banditry in the state — by providing landing facilities for the Nigerian Armed Forces’ air infrastructure.
A historic milestone
On March 22, 2026, Gusau Airport recorded its maiden flight as part of testing its operational readiness.
On that Sunday, Governor Lawal celebrated the successful test run of the state’s first flight at Gusau Airport, calling it a historic milestone.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, a Bombardier Challenger 605 aircraft, operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, landed at 4:30 p.m. that fateful day for a one-off test to assess the airport’s capability for VIP movements scheduled for the following week.
“Today (March 22) will remain a historic day in the history of Zamfara State as Governor Lawal witnessed the landing of the maiden flight at Gusau International Airport,” Mr Idris said in a statement.
The aircraft, registered 5N-FGZ, was cleared by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority under a one-off “No Technical Objection” (NTO) issued for the operation.
The test flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), strictly within daylight hours.
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The airport features a 3,400-meter runway capable of handling various aircraft types.
“The historic test flight has significantly boosted Governor Lawal’s administration’s reputation, especially since Zamfara has lacked an airport since its creation over 30 years ago,” Mr Idris said.
The successful landing marked a major step in the state government’s efforts to expand air transport infrastructure and attract investment.
Governor Lawal has said the airport will facilitate VIP and commercial movements, enhance connectivity, and promote economic development across Zamfara.
The milestone also positions the Gusau Airport as a potential hub for future domestic flights, signalling new opportunities for business, tourism, and government operations in the region.
On March 24, 2026, the airport recorded its first day of significant activity with 15 aircraft landings.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, House of Representatives Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, dozens of senators, ministers, and heads of federal agencies landed at the airport.
Ten state governors, including Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and the APC Governors Forum Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, also used Gusau Airport.
Boost for counter-insurgency campaign
The airport is a boost for Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North-West, as Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets touched down at the facility last week, marking a decisive step in efforts to curb escalating bandit attacks in Zamfara and neighbouring Kebbi State.
The development came amid a fresh wave of violence across rural communities in both states, where armed groups have intensified raids, abductions, and attacks on farming settlements, worsening insecurity and displacing residents.
The landing of the fighter jets highlighted the rapid transformation of the facility into a dual-purpose hub supporting both civilian travel and military operations.
Governor Lawal, who witnessed the historic landing, described it as a major milestone in strengthening Zamfara’s security architecture, stressing that the state’s investment in critical infrastructure is already yielding results.
“This is a significant moment for Zamfara. The presence of these aircraft will enhance rapid response and improve intelligence gathering across flashpoints,” the governor said.
The deployment also comes against the backdrop of recent investments by the Zamfara State Government in military hardware and logistics support aimed at complementing federal security efforts.
These include the procurement of operational vehicles, communication equipment, and other tactical support assets for security agencies to improve mobility and coordination in difficult terrains.
Analysts said that the operationalisation of Gusau Airport provides the NAF with a strategic forward operating base, significantly reducing response time to distress calls and enabling sustained aerial surveillance over the Zamfara-Kebbi axis, long considered a stronghold for bandits.
The landing—the first of its kind at the airport—underscores growing civil-military collaboration, with state-backed infrastructure now directly supporting national security operations.
They observed that the development also aligns with the Air Force’s strategy of decentralising air assets to volatile regions to enhance reach and mission effectiveness.
Ready for commercial flights
Zamfara State is moving closer to joining Nigeria’s active air travel network, with plans underway to begin commercial flight operations from Gusau International Airport.
State authorities say two airlines have been designated to operate from the airport, marking a significant step toward opening up the state to faster movement of people, goods, and services.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, revealed last week that the planned routes will connect Gusau to Abuja through Sokoto and Kano.
By this arrangement, each airline is expected to operate at least two flights weekly, providing what officials described as a more reliable alternative to long and often challenging road journeys.
For residents and business operators, this signals a potential shift in how travel and commerce are conducted in the state, with expectations that shorter travel times could stimulate trade and attract new investments.
This development could position Zamfara as a more connected hub within the region, reducing its relative isolation and enhancing its participation in national economic activities.
Deepening investment opportunities
The airport will open more investment opportunities in the state, Zamfara State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawal Barau Bungudu, said recently.
The facility is designed to serve as a hub for international cargo, aiming to boost Zamfara's comparative advantage in agriculture and solid minerals, he said.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the airport, Mr Bungudu said the Governor Lawal’s administration was committed to delivering an international-standard airport that citizens will be proud of.
“Our government, under the leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal, is constructing this airport to open more investment opportunities in Zamfara,” he said.
Airlift of Zamfara pilgrims
The Zamfara State Government said it will commence the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj from Gusau Airport.
This was announced by the Executive Chairman of the Zamfara State Hajj Commission, Alhaji Musa Mallaha, during a radio program in Gusau last week.
Mr Mallaha said Zamfara State intending pilgrims would be airlifted from Gusau Airport, instead of from Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto, thereby reducing the stress of the pilgrims.
Before now, pilgrims from Zamfara State spent nearly five hours inside buses travelling to Sokoto for outbound journeys to Saudi Arabia. They spent the same number of hours on their inbound journey back to Gusau from Sokoto after the pilgrimage.
The pilgrims’ chief said the commission is introducing new welfare measures to improve the experience of the intending pilgrims.
Exploring real-time aviation training
The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) is exploring a partnership with Gusau Airport to serve as a hub for real-time aviation training.
This was revealed during NCAT’s delegation visit to the airport for a technical assessment on February 24, 2026.
The delegation, led by Mr Nasir Muhammad Bungura, conducted a thorough inspection of the facility alongside the Permanent Secretary of the Zamfara State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Haruna Dikko Gusau.
The visit was part of an assessment of the airport’s infrastructure and readiness to support practical aviation training activities.
Mr Bungura said the infrastructure provides a solid base for operational and training purposes.
He said NCAT was interested in identifying facilities that can offer students real-time operational exposure, particularly in areas such as airport safety management, air traffic services, and aircraft ground operations.
He said partnerships of this nature would strengthen hands-on learning and contribute to improved aviation standards across Nigeria.
