Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed a 2-month suspension of the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fee imposed on oil and gas operations across Nigeria.
The decision followed a high level meeting between Aviation authorities and petroleum industry stakeholders at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the suspension was approved after concerns were raised that the policy could disrupt vital offshore logistics.
Participants at the meeting included the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, alongside regulators and representatives of major oil companies.
Industry operators noted that the statutory charge by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency applies to helicopter services supporting offshore oil fields, platforms, drilling rigs and Floating Production Storage and Offloading facilities.
Stakeholders explained that while regulatory oversight is necessary, the immediate enforcement of the fee in its current structure could affect critical transport operations that sustain offshore production and energy supply activities.
Among those present were the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Umar Farouk; the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata; as well as officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and representatives of oil producer groups.
Minister Keyamo also approved the establishment of an inter ministerial committee made up of aviation and petroleum sector representatives to review the framework of the helicopter landing fee and recommend a balanced approach that ensures aviation safety while supporting uninterrupted oil and gas operations.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
