Historic Flight Test Conducted at Gusau International Airport – Gov. Lawal Applauds Milestone

Governor Dauda Lawal has expressed excitement following the successful test run of a maiden flight at the Gusau International Airport, describing the development as a historic achievement for Zamfara State.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the test flight reportedly landed at exactly 4:30 p.m.

According to the statement, the aircraft used for the exercise was a Bombardier Challenger 605, operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The spokesperson noted that the flight, bearing registration number 5N-FGZ, was a one-off test designed to evaluate the airport’s readiness to handle VIP movements scheduled for the coming week.

He further explained that the test flight was conducted in line with provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, specifically Part 12.1.4.1(c), after the Zamfara State Government obtained the necessary approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The Authority granted a one-time “No Technical Objection” (NTO) for the aircraft to land at the facility.

The operation was carried out under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), restricting the flight to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset.

Describing the development as a landmark achievement, the statement emphasized that the successful test flight marks a significant boost to Governor Lawal’s administration, noting that Zamfara State has operated without an airport for over three decades since its creation.