The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims suggesting it does not own Gateway Air, describing such assertions as misleading and politically motivated.
The clarification was made on Tuesday by Emmanuel Ojo, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on New Media, who stated that the state government fully owns the airline’s aircraft.
According to Ojo, while the government retains ownership, flight operations have been outsourced to ValueJet, an indigenous airline with established technical expertise and regulatory experience.
He explained that the arrangement was deliberately structured to ensure efficiency and sustainability, noting that managing a full airline operation from inception could pose significant operational and financial challenges.
“The aircraft are fully owned by the Ogun State Government , while flight operations are being managed by ValueJet,” he said, adding that the partnership allows the state to leverage existing industry capacity rather than building from scratch.
Ojo further noted that the collaboration was strengthened by ValueJet’s prior operations within the state, particularly its scheduled flights between Ogun and Abuja even before the official commissioning of the airport.
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He said this familiarity with the route and market positions the airline for a smoother and more commercially viable take-off.
The governor’s aide also criticised individuals questioning the project, accusing them of attempting to politicise what he described as a significant achievement for the state.
He maintained that the launch of Gateway Air represents a major milestone under the current administration, insisting that criticism would not diminish its impact.
“For us, history has been made… Gateway Air is real, the vision is clear, and the achievement is monumental,” Ojo said.
The development comes amid broader efforts by the Ogun State Government to expand its aviation infrastructure and enhance connectivity, with officials expressing confidence that the public-private partnership model will ensure long-term success for the airline.