FG suspends helicopter landing fees for oil companies

CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO,

Following extensive deliberations between officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Aviation, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees for an initial period of two months.

The Minister further announced that an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors will be constituted immediately to examine the issues raised in detail and work towards an amicable resolution that will produce an acceptable framework for all stakeholders.

A statement by Tunde Moshood , Special Adviser On Media and Communications to the Minister noted that the two Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of their respective Ministries to continued collaboration in ensuring that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in both the aviation and petroleum sectors, which remain critical pillars of the Nigerian economy.

The oil industry representatives at a meeting, had expressed concern that the continued enforcement of the statutory fee, as currently structured, could potentially disrupt critical operations within the sector.

The development happened at meeting between the delegation from the petroleum sector including the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, as well as representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, thea meeting Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).

On the part of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, th Minister was joined by the out-going Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk, senior officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other key stakeholders in the aviation sector.

The meeting was convened at the instance of the petroleum industry stakeholders who came to raise concerns regarding the enforcement of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by NAMA for helicopter operations conducted by the International Oil Companies. The fee applies to operations on 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.