The Federal Government has ordered the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of helicopter landing fees imposed on oil and gas operators following concerns raised by stakeholders in the petroleum industry.

The directive was issued on Monday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and representatives of major oil industry groups at the aviation ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement signed by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the meeting brought together officials from both the aviation and petroleum sectors to review the implementation of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for helicopter operations conducted by international oil companies in Nigeria.

The petroleum sector delegation included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, alongside representatives of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).

Also present at the meeting were senior officials from the aviation ministry, including the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofarmata; the Managing Director of NAMA, Engr Umar Farouk; and representatives of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), among other stakeholders.

During the discussions, oil industry representatives expressed concern that the continued enforcement of the statutory fee on helicopter operations servicing oil facilities could disrupt critical activities within the sector.

The landing fee applies to helicopter operations linked to oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, as well as heliports, helipads, airstrips and aerodromes used in oil and gas operations.

Following deliberations, Keyamo directed that the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees be suspended for an initial period of two months.

The minister also announced that an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors would be established immediately to review the issues raised and develop an acceptable framework for all stakeholders.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration between their respective ministries to ensure that regulatory policies support operational efficiency in the aviation and petroleum sectors, which remain critical pillars of the Nigerian economy.