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FG suspends $300 helicopter landing fees for oil companies
The Federal Government has once again ordered a temporary suspension of the controversial $300 helicopter landing fees specifically for oil and gas companies.
This directive was issued on Monday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, following a high-level meeting in Abuja with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and key industry stakeholders.
Keyamo, Lokpobiri
The enforcement and collection of the fees are suspended for an initial period of two months. Petroleum industry stakeholders, including the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), raised concerns that the fees could disrupt critical oil and gas operations.
The suspension applies to all helicopter operations at oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities, and private helipads.
As part of the resolution plan, an inter-ministerial committee has been established to review the issues and develop an “amicable and acceptable framework” for all parties involved.
The landing fee, which was outsourced to a private consultant, NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited, has faced significant pushback since its inception.
| Date | Event |
| May 2024 | First suspension of the fee following protests from the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). |
| June 2025 | The fee was reintroduced, leading to a standoff where NAMA briefly prevented helicopters from taking off. |
| Sept 2025 | The fee was shifted from airline operators directly to oil companies to ease pressure on the aviation sector. |
| March 2026 | Current Status: Temporary two-month suspension for oil companies to allow for further review. |
Critics of the levy, including aviation experts and oil workers’ unions like NUPENG and PENGASSAN, have argued that the charge is “arbitrary” and lacks a clear service-delivery basis, which they claim violates International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.
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