For the first time in over three decades Zamfara State has heard the sound of an aircraft landing on its soil.
A Bombardier Challenger 605 aircraft with registration 5N-FGZ, operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, touched down at Gusau International Airport at exactly 4:30pm on Sunday March 22, 2026 marking the maiden landing at the airport since Zamfara State was created over 30 years ago.
The governor, visibly moved by the moment, watched from the tarmac as the aircraft completed its approach and landed on what is now one of the most talked-about pieces of infrastructure in northwest Nigeria.
“Today will remain a landmark day in the history of Zamfara State as we witnessed the maiden landing at Gusau International Airport,” Governor Lawal said. “The flight was conducted to assess the airport’s capability ahead of upcoming VIP operations.”
The landing was a carefully regulated test flight rather than a commercial service. Before the aircraft could land, the state government formally applied to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority which granted a one-time No Technical Objection which is a special one-off clearance specifically for this assessment exercise.
The operation was conducted strictly under Visual Flight Rules, meaning it was limited to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset, and the test is designed to evaluate the airport’s readiness ahead of scheduled VIP movements expected next week.
The significance of the moment is difficult to overstate for a state that has spent its entire existence without a functional airport. Governor Lawal has repeatedly highlighted the crippling effect of Zamfara’s lack of air access on investment and economic development pointing out that the journey from Abuja to Gusau by road can take up to seven hours, often deterring potential investors from making the trip at all.
The successful test landing is being described as a significant boost for the Lawal administration, signalling tangible progress on a long awaited infrastructure project in a state that has struggled with accessibility for decades.
Full commercial operations have not yet been announced and will require additional NCAA clearances, infrastructure certification and airline route approvals before regular flights can begin.
