NAMA demands compliance with $300 helicopter landing fee in oil industry

• The Nigerian national authorities and lipid corporations are astatine likelihood implicit a $300 chopper landing interest imposed by the NAMA
• Despite a impermanent suspension of the interest successful May 2024, FG has present lifted the suspension, demanding outgo oregon hazard enforcement measures
• NAMA insists that the levies align with planetary champion practices, supporting aerial navigation infrastructure and aviation safety

Legit.ng writer Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market.

The national government, multinational lipid corporations (IOCs), and operators of floating accumulation retention and offloading (FPSO) units successful Nigeria are acceptable for a clash aft a seven-day deadline for paying the $300 chopper landing fees.

Photo Credit: FG, Contributor
Source: Getty Images

The ultimatum was issued by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) connected Tuesday successful a notification published successful respective nationalist newspapers.

Platforms affected by levy

Through a consultant, NAEBI Dynamic Concept, the chopper landing levy is applied to chopper landings connected lipid rigs and platforms.

Oil corporations and hose operators person opposed the charge, which was implemented by the national authorities nether erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari done the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Helicopter operators were instructed by a ministry memo past twelvemonth to wage chopper landing fees astatine each Nigerian airstrips, helipads, aerodromes, floating accumulation retention and offloading (FPSO) units, floating retention and offloading (FSO) units, and different lipid platforms.

In May 2024, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the existent Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, declared that the complaint would beryllium temporarily suspended. He stated that aft a reappraisal committee presents its findings for consideration, further steps would beryllium taken connected the matter.

However, according to a caller circular signed by Akut D.S., General Manager, Air Traffic Control Operations astatine the Nigerian Airspace Development Agency (NAMA), the national authorities lifted the suspension precisely 1 twelvemonth later.

Despite this decision, lipid and state companies proceed to situation the $300 interest for each landing astatine lipid rigs and platforms, according to accusation obtained by Daily Trust.

7-days ultimatum

NAMA gave the affected operators 7 days to comply connected Tuesday. For aerial navigation services provided by NAMA wrong Nigerian airspace, including operations astatine Oil Fields, Terminals, Platforms, Rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, Helipads, Airstrips, and Aerodromes, NAMA emphasized successful the announcement the necessity of afloat compliance with the Agency's proviso regarding the punctual outgo of chopper landing levies.

It clarified that since 2022, the bureau has regularly sent retired galore written messages to pass lipid and state businesses of the statutory presumption of the NAMA Act successful collaboration with Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited.

According to the agency,

“These proactive efforts person not yielded the desired compliance, owed to the power of definite individuals who person worked with them against adherence to established regulatory requirements.”

NAMA explained that the bureau whitethorn determine to unopen down and relocate facilities utilized for unauthorised navigational operations wrong Nigerian airspace successful enactment with Section 8(3) of the Act.

Photo Credit: Contributor
Source: Getty Images

“As liable and law-abiding planetary firm entities, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) hereby calls connected each affected lipid companies to, wrong 7 (7) days from the day of this publication, formally pass to Naebi Dynamic Concepts Ltd their projected outgo plans and modalities for applicable aerial navigation levies.”“Failure to comply wrong the stipulated clip framework volition trigger due enforcement measures, including the denial of formation clearances for chopper operations to Oil Fields, Terminals, Platforms, Rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, Helipads, Airstrips, and Aerodromes.”“This enactment is undertaken not simply to enforce regulatory compliance, but to safeguard nationalist security, heighten aviation safety, beforehand operational sustainability, and guarantee the continued ratio of Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, each successful alignment with planetary obligations and globally accepted champion practices,” helium said.

FG reintroduces $300 chopper landing interest

Legit.ng reported that 1 twelvemonth aft suspending the $300 chopper landing fee, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reintroduced the levy.

Keyamo had suspended the interest aft criticisms from aviation experts and stakeholders, who cited the illegality of the outgo to a backstage company, NAEBI Dynamic Concept.

The minister, however, said that further enactment would beryllium taken connected the contented aft owed consultation and the reappraisal committee's submission of its report.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng