The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has ordered the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees imposed on oil and gas operators by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
The decision followed a meeting between the Aviation Ministry and a delegation from the petroleum sector led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, where concerns were raised about the potential impact of the fees on critical oil and gas operations.
The helicopter landing fee applies to operations carried out on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading facilities, as well as heliports, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes used in the course of oil and gas activities.
Stakeholders in the petroleum sector had warned that the continued enforcement of the statutory fee, as currently structured, could disrupt vital operations within the industry.
Following discussions, Keyamo directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement of the fees for a period of two months to allow room for further consultations and review.
The minister also announced that an inter-ministerial committee involving representatives from both the aviation and petroleum sectors will be constituted to examine the issues raised and work towards an acceptable framework for all stakeholders.
