The Airline Operators of Nigeria, the umbrella body for local airline operators, has said aside from lacking a legal framework, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency does not provide any additional service to helicopter operators to justify the imposition of a landing fee.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had since called for the suspension of the new levy over outcry in the aviation industry.

The minister, however, set up a committee to look at the appropriateness or otherwise of the new levy payment by helicopter operators.

The umbrella body for scheduled and unscheduled airlines in Nigeria stressed that the imposition of the Helicopter Landing and Take-off Fee at private helipads, and oil rig platforms when no service is provided at those locations to the helicopter operators by NAMA is contrary to the provision of section 7 (1) (r) of the then applicable NAMA Act as well as to section 1, paragraph 2(1) of ICAO Document 9082.

Spokesman for AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, alleged that NAMA did not adhere to the policies, principles and guidelines contained in the ICAO Documents 9082 (ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services) and 9161 (Manual on Air Navigation Services Economics) before imposing the Helicopter Landing and Take-off Fee.

Quoting Part 18, section 18.8.1.1 (e) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, AON asked NAMA to adhere to the policies, principles and guidelines contained in those documents.

The body further alleged that contrary to the ministry’s press statement of May 13, 2024, neither NCAA nor FAAN is a party to the MoU between NAMA and Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited for the collection of the helicopter landing and take-off fee at private helipads, oil rig platforms, among others.

Okonkwo said,, “The fee is charged and demanded in US Dollars contrary to the provision of section 15 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, which is clear that the unit of currency in Nigeria shall be the Naira.”

“There is nowhere in the world where the Air Navigation Service Provider does not provide any service to helicopter operators but charges landing and take-off fees for landings and take-off on and from private helipads, oil rig platforms, FSPOs, FSOs, etc.

He added, “The examples given by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in the Press Release of 13°” May 2024 of where landing and take-off fee is paid are all of the airports. The engagement of Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited did not follow due process as it did not comply with the requirements of the Public Procurement Act for the procurement of the services of consultants.”

Giving a historical background, Okonkwo explained that the matter began in 2018 when Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited proposed the introduction of “Helicopter Landing and Take-off Fee” to the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who forwarded the proposal to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for comment.

He added that, NCAA then, dismissed the development saying no legal framework for the development.