Concerns from Nigeria’s oil industry have prompted a temporary pause in the enforcement of helicopter landing fees imposed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
The issue came to the fore during a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, alongside key stakeholders from the oil and aviation sectors.
Representatives of international oil companies and industry groups told the meeting that the continued enforcement of the statutory landing fee on helicopter operations serving oil fields, terminals, offshore platforms, rigs and floating production facilities could disrupt critical operations in the sector.
The operators rely heavily on helicopters to move personnel and equipment between offshore installations, and warned that the additional cost burden could affect efficiency and production activities.
Following extensive deliberations with aviation regulators and oil industry executives, the Aviation Minister announced a temporary suspension of the fee’s enforcement for an initial period of two months.
An inter-ministerial committee is now to be set up to review the concerns raised by the oil industry and work toward a balanced solution that protects aviation regulations while ensuring uninterrupted operations in Nigeria’s vital oil and gas sector.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen