Keyamo suspends collection of helicopter landing fees for two months
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a two-month suspension of the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees. He gave the directive during a meeting
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a two-month suspension of the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees.
He gave the directive during a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, and a delegation from the oil and gas industry at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting was convened at the instance of petroleum industry stakeholders due to concerns regarding the enforcement of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for helicopter operations conducted by international oil companies.
The fee applies to operations on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities, heliports, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes used in oil and gas operations.
The oil industry representatives expressed concern that the continued enforcement of the statutory fee, as currently structured, could disrupt critical operations within the sector.
The Minister in a statement by his Media Aide, Tunde Moshood, also announced that an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors will be constituted to examine the issues raised in detail and work towards an amicable resolution that will produce an acceptable framework for all stakeholders.
Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in ensuring that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in both the aviation and petroleum sectors.
The delegation from the petroleum sector included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Yakubu Kofarmata, and the Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Umar Farouk, senior officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other key stakeholders in the aviation sector were also present at the meeting.