The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees for an initial period of two months.
This was even as he received the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and a delegation from the oil and gas industry at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting was convened at the instance of the petroleum industry stakeholders who came to raise concerns regarding the enforcement of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by NAMA for helicopter operations conducted by the International Oil Companies.
The fee applies to operations on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities, as well as heliports, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes used in the course of oil and gas operations.
The oil industry representatives expressed concern that the continued enforcement of the statutory fee, as currently structured, could potentially disrupt critical operations within the sector.
Following extensive deliberations between both parties, Keyamo directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees for an initial period of two months.
Keyamo in a statement issued on Tuesday further announced that an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors will be constituted immediately to examine the issues raised in detail and work towards an amicable resolution that will produce an acceptable framework for all stakeholders.
The two ministers reaffirmed the commitment of their respective Ministries to continued collaboration in ensuring that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in both the aviation and petroleum sectors, which remain critical pillars of the Nigerian economy.
The delegation from the petroleum sector included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, as well as representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).