FG insists on helicopter landing charges

The Federal Government has said helicopter landing charges are legally backed by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency Act of 2022. It spoke amidst campaign by some stakeholders against the charges.

Recall that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) complained about the landing charges, following which the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace set up a committee to review the collection of the charges and come up with recommendations.

The committee justified the exercise. The Director, Legal of NAMA, Rita Egbadon, during a meeting with AON, yesterday, in Abuja said the ministry had adopted the report of the committee, saying the charges were part of global aviation practices as it would contribute to national economy.

According to her, the levy to the Federal Government through NAMA is statutory for provision of air navigational services for helicopter landing by oil companies on oil fields, terminals, platform, rigs, Floating Productive Storage and Offloading (FPSO) on helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes.

The NAMA director stated that companies like Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and INTELS had all pledged compliance to the new policy.

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