Government puts $300 chopper touchdown charge on hold for 60 days

The Federal Government has initiated a temporary halt on the collection of a $300 helicopter landing fee, which had been imposed on oil and gas operators, in response to concerns voiced by stakeholders within the petroleum industry.

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This decision was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and representatives of major oil industry groups, held at the aviation ministry's headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

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A statement issued by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, outlined the meeting's purpose, which was to discuss the implementation of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, for helicopter operations carried out by International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in Nigeria.

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Representatives from the oil industry expressed concerns that the continued enforcement of the statutory fee on helicopter operations servicing oil facilities could potentially disrupt critical operations within the sector.

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Following discussions, Keyamo instructed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees for an initial period of two months.

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The minister also announced the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee, comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors, to examine the issues raised and work towards a mutually acceptable resolution that would produce a framework acceptable to all stakeholders.

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The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, ensuring that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in the aviation and petroleum sectors, which are vital components of the economy.