FG insists helicopter landing charges are legally backed by NAMA Act

Amidst a campaign by some stakeholders against Helicopter Landing Charges, the federal government has said the charges are legally backed by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency Act of 2022.

According to findings by the Review Committee of the landing charges set up by the federal government, the processes of the levies are obtainable in countries like India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, adding that they are appalled at the level of wastage the country has incurred in past years.

It would be recalled that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) complained about the landing charges, to which the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, had set up a committee to review the collection of the charges and come up with recommendations.

The Director of Legal of NAMA, Rita Egbadon, during a meeting with AON on Wednesday in Abuja, said the ministry has adopted the report of the committee, stating that the charges are part of global aviation practices as they contribute to the national economy.

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She explained that the levy to the Federal Government through NAMA is statutory for the provision of Air Navigational Services for helicopter landings by oil companies on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes.

While stressing that the committee discovered that initially, oil companies were invoiced by third parties, such as helicopter operators, which did not allow for transparency and compliance, she said that going forward, oil companies will be invoiced directly rather than through third parties.

The NAMA director stated that companies like Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), and INTELS have all pledged compliance with the new policy.

She stated that the Ministry has appointed Messrs Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited to collect and enforce the helicopter landing fees, and as such, all oil companies on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, FPSO units, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes should comply with the outcome of the report.

The airline operators, in their response, noted that they have no role in the collection of the helicopter levies and that no levy should be paid to them or their members, promising that information that will help the process of compliance will be made available to all concerned.