BY. OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Monday, announced a temporary suspension of helicopter landing fees for operations in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, following a high-level meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and industry stakeholders.
This was disclosed by his Spokesman, Tunde Moshood.
The petroleum delegation included; Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), alongside representatives from International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).
From the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Minister Keyamo was joined by outgoing Permanent Secretary 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 aviation stakeholders.
The meeting was convened at the request of oil industry representatives, who raised concerns over the enforcement of the statutory helicopter landing fee prescribed by NAMA.
The fee applies to helicopter operations servicing oil fields, rigs, platforms, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities, heliports, helipads, airstrips, and other aerodromes critical to petroleum operations.
Industry representatives warned that continuing the fee in its current form could disrupt essential operations and impede the sector’s efficiency.
After extensive deliberations, Minister Keyamo directed that the collection and enforcement of the helicopter landing fees be temporarily suspended for two months.
Keyamo emphasised that the suspension is part of a broader effort to find a sustainable solution, stating,
“An inter-ministerial committee comprising officials from both the aviation and petroleum sectors will be set up immediately to review the concerns raised and develop a framework that works for all stakeholders.”
Senator Lokpobiri, while affirming the commitment of the petroleum sector to compliance, described the collaborative approach as “critical to ensuring operational efficiency and avoiding disruption in a sector that remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy.”
The two Ministers reaffirmed their dedication to ongoing cooperation between aviation and petroleum regulators, underscoring the importance of policies that support safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
The outcome of the review is expected to provide clarity and balance for both sectors, ensuring that regulatory frameworks foster growth without compromising operational integrity.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
