The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development (FMA&AD) recently held a sensitisation meeting with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to discuss the findings and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Helicopter Landing Levies.
This meeting was convened following complaints by the AON and a subsequent directive by the Minister Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, to review the levies and provide actionable recommendations.
According to a statement signed by the head of press and public affairs of the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, the meeting took place on August 27, 2024, in the minister’s conference room. The session was presided over by the Director of Legal Services at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Rita Egbadon, who highlighted the significance of the meeting in light of the Ministry’s adoption of the committee’s report.
Egbadon explained that the report emphasised the importance of Helicopter Landing Levies as part of global aviation practices, which contribute significantly to the national economy. “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 units (FPSO), helipads, airstrips and aerodromes,” she stated.
The director further noted that the committee’s findings confirmed that the legal basis for the levy aligns with the NAMA Act of 2022. The report also pointed out that similar levies are standard practice in countries like India, the United Kingdom, the United States and members of the European Union. Egbadon expressed concern over the financial losses Nigeria has incurred over the years due to a lack of transparency in the invoicing process.
“The committee discovered that prior to its assignment, oil companies were invoiced by third parties, such as helicopter operators, which compromised transparency and compliance,” she explained. To address this, the committee recommended that oil companies be invoiced directly, rather than through intermediaries, to ensure greater transparency and reduce complaints from stakeholders, including the AON.
Egbadon informed AON that major companies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and INTELS had already begun complying with the new invoicing process. She concluded that the ministry tasked Messrs Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited to collect and enforce the helicopter landing levies. All oil companies operating on relevant platforms are expected to comply with the committee’s recommendations.
In response, the AON clarified that it has no role in the collection of the levies and stressed that no levy should be paid to it or its members. The organisation assured the ministry that it would provide the necessary information to facilitate compliance with the new guidelines.
