Tinubu Vows End to Terror as He Unveils Gateway Airport, State Airline in Ogun

IPERU, OGUN STATE – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday declared a definitive war on the forces of insecurity, asserting that his administration is unyielding in its resolve to defeat banditry and terrorism.

​Speaking at the historic commissioning of the Gateway International Airport in Iperu, Ogun State, the President linked national security directly to economic prosperity, promising to “invest more in the Nigerian people” as the ultimate shield against instability.

​”We will win over banditry and terrorism,” the President told a cheering crowd of dignitaries, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. “I give you the assurance that we will invest more in our people. Nigeria is on the path of greatness once again.”

​A Hub for the Future

​The event, which saw the unveiling of a “raft of infrastructure projects,” was headlined by the new airport—a facility the President described as a landmark achievement. Notably, the airport operates on an independent power supply, fueled by strategic investments in gas and energy.

​In a move to modernize the state’s transportation and logistics sector, President Tinubu also launched Gateway Air, the new state-owned airline. The carrier commenced operations with two newly acquired aircraft, to be managed in partnership with ValueJet.

​Green Mobility and Security

​Beyond aviation, the President’s visit showcased a shift toward sustainable technology and enhanced security:

1.Electric Mobility: The President commissioned 1,000 electric bikes, describing the initiative as a “smart response to modern transportation needs” that prioritizes technology over fossil fuels.

​2.Security Reinforcement: A fleet of 80 security vehicles and the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) were unveiled to strengthen the state’s safety architecture.

​3.Agriculture: A fleet of new tractors was introduced to bolster food security and support local farmers.

​Honoring the Victims of Jos

​The visit to the “Gateway State” carried a somber undertone, coming just days after the President traveled to Jos, Plateau State. The Ogun ceremony had been postponed from its original Wednesday date to allow the President to commiserate with the families of the March 29 Palm Sunday attack, where gunmen killed at least 28 people in the Angwan Rukuba district.

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​”The development of additional security vehicles is strengthening our resolve to protect lives and property,” Tinubu noted, referencing the recent tragedy as a catalyst for the administration’s intensified security measures.

​The “Tinubu Expressway”

​In recognition of the President’s visit and his administration’s support for state infrastructure, Governor Abiodun announced the renaming of the reconstructed Old Ibadan Road (Sapade–Ilishan) as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Expressway.

​The President praised the hard work of Nigerian youth and the vision of the Ogun State government, concluding that the commissioning of the airport and its accompanying cargo facility positions the state as a premier logistics hub in West Africa.