Nigeria has temporarily suspended the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees imposed on oil and gas operators, following concerns raised by stakeholders in the petroleum industry.
The suspension follows a meeting on Monday attended by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); and representatives of major oil industry groups at the aviation ministry headquarters in Abuja.
A statement signed by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications, said the meeting discussed the implementation of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for helicopter operations carried out by international oil companies operating in Nigeria.
The petroleum sector delegation included Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), as well as representatives of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).
Officials from the aviation ministry present at the meeting included the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata; NAMA Managing Director, Engr. Umar Farouk; senior officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); and other stakeholders in the aviation sector.
During the meeting, oil industry representatives expressed concern that continued enforcement of the statutory fee on helicopter operations servicing oil facilities could disrupt critical operations within the sector.
The fee applies to helicopter operations involving oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities, as well as heliports, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes used in the course of oil and gas operations.
Following deliberations, Minister Keyamo directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees for an initial period of two months.
He also announced that an inter-ministerial committee, comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors, will be constituted immediately to examine the issues raised and work toward an amicable resolution that produces an acceptable framework for all stakeholders.
Both ministers reaffirmed the commitment of their respective ministries to continue collaborating to ensure that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in the aviation and petroleum sectors, which remain critical pillars of the Nigerian economy.