Date: Late June 2025
Focus: Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) cracks down on non-payment of $300 helicopter landing levies for operations servicing oilfields, terminals, rigs, FPSOs, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes.
What’s the Scoop?
7-Day Ultimatum Issued
NAMA, via Naebi Dynamic Concepts Ltd, has given oil and gas helicopter operators exactly seven days to submit payment plans—failure to do so means no flight clearances for offshore missions.
$300 per Landing
First introduced in 2024 and briefly suspended in 2024, the levy is now reinstated as a mandatory regulatory fee.
Enforcement Threats
Noncompliance could result in:
Denial of helicopter flight clearance
Shutdown or relocation of unauthorized helipads/platforms after ministerial approval
Why Is This Important?
Global Standards Compliance
NAMA emphasizes that charging helicopter landing levies aligns with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) practices across Europe, Asia, and the Americas
Critical Infrastructure Funding
Levies fund:
Radar and communication upgrades
Air traffic control systems (for helicopters, drones, fixed-wing crafts)
Military and sovereignty-support systems
Safety & National Security
According to aviation expert Hassan Tai Ejibunu, the levy is a “shared responsibility,” vital for safe and sovereign airspace management:
“The cost of a single aviation incident… would far outweigh the cumulative impact of this modest fee.”
Voices from the Field
NAMA’s Statement: Section 8 & 9 of the NAMA Act 2022 confirm its exclusive right to manage air navigation services—non-compliance leads to enforcement
Hassan Tai Ejibunu (Ex‑Director, Air Transport Management):
“Offshore oil operations rely heavily on helicopter transport… Without adequate funding, these systems risk degradation… security breaches.”
“The levy… is unavoidable and only charged for the use of Nigerian airspace… The Helicopter Landing Levy is not a burden. It is a shared responsibility.”
What’s at Risk?
Operational Disruptions: Withheld flight clearances could paralyze offshore logistics—delaying crew changes, freight movement, and maintenance.
Rigs at Risk: Non-compliant helipads/platforms could be physically shut down.
Rising Tensions: International oil firms may challenge the levy in court, intensifying the standoff.
Takeaway for Stakeholders
Oil & Gas Operators must act fast—submit payment modalities or face grounded helicopters and disrupted operations.
Policy Implication: Reinforces NAMA’s authority and aligns Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure funding with global norms.
Strategic View: This is more than a fee—it’s a move toward sustainable, secure, and well-funded air navigation in the Niger Delta and beyond.
Looking Ahead
Will operators negotiate alternative logistics like offshore vessels or drones to bypass levies?
Can court challenges stall enforcement or prompt a policy recalibration?
Might this shift spark broader infrastructure reforms in Nigeria’s aviation and energy sectors?
Final Thought: NAMA’s tough stance signals a new era—helicopter operators must now reckon with both financial and operational realities. This blog will track developments as they unfold.
