The Federal Government has ordered a temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees imposed on oil and gas operators following concerns raised by stakeholders in the petroleum industry.
The directive was announced on Monday by Festus Keyamo during a meeting with Heineken Lokpobiri and representatives of major oil industry groups at the aviation ministry headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the meeting brought together key officials from both the aviation and petroleum sectors.
The discussions focused on the implementation of helicopter landing charges introduced by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency for helicopter operations conducted by International Oil Companies operating in the country.
The petroleum sector delegation included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, along with representatives from the Oil Producers Trade Section and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group.
Officials from the aviation ministry present at the meeting included the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Umar Farouk, senior officials from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, and other stakeholders in the aviation sector.
During the meeting, representatives of the oil industry expressed concern that continued enforcement of the statutory fees on helicopter operations supporting oil facilities could disrupt key activities within the sector.
The charges apply to helicopter operations servicing oil fields, terminals, offshore platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading facilities, as well as heliports, helipads, airstrips and aerodromes used in oil and gas operations.
After deliberations, Keyamo directed that the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees be suspended for an initial period of two months.
He also announced that an inter-ministerial committee made up of representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors would be set up immediately to review the concerns raised and develop a mutually acceptable framework for all stakeholders.
Both ministers reaffirmed the commitment of their ministries to continued collaboration in ensuring that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in both the aviation and petroleum sectors, which remain key pillars of Nigeria’s economy.
What you should know
Helicopter operations are critical to Nigeria’s offshore oil industry, as they transport workers, equipment and supplies to remote oil platforms and production facilities.
The landing charges introduced by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency were part of regulatory efforts to standardise aviation-related fees across the country. However, oil industry stakeholders raised concerns that the additional costs could affect operational efficiency and increase production expenses.
The federal government’s decision to temporarily suspend the fees is aimed at creating room for further consultation while developing a framework that balances regulatory requirements with the operational needs of the oil and gas sector.
