The Federal Government has postponed the enforcement of the controversial $300 helicopter landing fee imposed on oil and gas operations following strong opposition from industry stakeholders.
The decision comes amid rising tensions between aviation regulators and international oil companies (IOCs), including helicopter operators who have repeatedly described the charge as a form of multiple taxation.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordered the suspension of the enforcement and collection of the fee for an initial two-month period after holding a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.
Last week, The Guardian learnt that some helicopter operators were temporarily prevented by government officials from operating at oil rigs and platforms after refusing to pay the disputed fee.
Industry operators had also warned that continued enforcement of the charge could disrupt critical offshore operations, particularly helicopter services responsible for transporting personnel and equipment to oil platforms, rigs and production facilities across the Niger Delta.
The helicopter landing fee, prescribed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), applies to helicopter operations servicing oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities. It also covers heliports, helipads, airstrips and aerodromes used in oil and gas activities.
The dispute over the fee has persisted for more than four years, dating back to the tenure of former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, who initially introduced the charge but later suspended its implementation following widespread opposition from industry players.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the aviation minister, Tunde Moshood, said Keyamo held a meeting in his Abuja office on Monday with representatives from the oil and gas and aviation sectors to address the matter.
According to the statement, the petroleum industry delegation included officials of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), representatives of international oil companies operating in Nigeria, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).
Also present at the meeting were the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, the Managing Director of NAMA, Umar Farouk, as well as senior officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation stakeholders.
The meeting was convened following concerns raised by oil and gas operators about the potential impact of the landing fee on their operations.
Industry representatives told the ministers that enforcing the charge under its current structure could significantly affect helicopter logistics supporting offshore exploration and production activities.
After deliberations, Keyamo directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of the landing fee for two months to allow further consultations among stakeholders.
He also announced the immediate establishment of an inter-ministerial committee, comprising representatives from both the aviation and petroleum sectors, to review the issues surrounding the charge and recommend an acceptable framework.
According to Keyamo, the committee will examine the regulatory, operational and financial implications of the landing fee and propose a solution that balances government regulatory responsibilities with the operational needs of the oil and gas sector.
