Nigeria government suspends $300 helicopter landing fee for oil and gas sector for two months
The controversial $300 helicopter landing fee for oil and gas operations has been temporarily suspended for an initial two-month period after industry stakeholders raised concerns about its potential impact on critical petroleum activities.
The decision followed a high-level meeting in Abuja on Monday between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri. The meeting also brought together representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), international oil companies, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).
Senior aviation officials were also in attendance, including the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Umar Farouk; and top officials from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The $300 landing charge, introduced by NAMA, applies to helicopter operations supporting oil and gas activities, including flights to oil fields, terminals, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities, heliports, helipads, airstrips, and other related aviation infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders had warned that enforcing the levy in its current form could disrupt essential services such as crew transfers and logistics operations, with possible knock-on effects on Nigeria’s oil production and exploration activities.
Following deliberations, Keyamo directed that the fee be suspended for two months. He also announced the immediate creation of an inter-ministerial committee made up of officials from the aviation and petroleum sectors to review the issues raised and recommend a workable framework that balances revenue generation with operational efficiency.
Both ministers stressed the need for closer collaboration between the aviation and petroleum sectors, describing them as key pillars of Nigeria’s economy.
The temporary suspension offers relief to helicopter operators and oil companies while the committee works toward a long-term solution aimed at ensuring uninterrupted operations across Nigeria’s critical oil and gas industry.