FG is set to reimplement the controversial $300 Helicopter landing levy.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is poised to reinstate the contentious $300 landing fee imposed on helicopter operators in the country.
During the ongoing 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) in Kano, Tayo John, the Director of Air Traffic Services at NAMA, remarked that reinstating the fee would alleviate the agency’s current financial challenges.
His submission follows the federal government’s six-month fee suspension, a decision taken in response to protests from airline operators.
It could be recalled that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, had previously engaged NAEBI Dynamic Concept to oversee the collection of this fee.
In May 2024, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension of the $300 landing fee for helicopter operators.
He indicated that further decisions regarding the fee would be made after a review committee submits its findings for evaluation.
In his presentation titled ‘Financial Constraints Affecting Nigeria’s Air Navigation Provision: Impact and Mitigation Strategies,’ John explained that the Federal Government had urged the agency to suspend the fee shortly after its initial implementation.
He did, however, mention that NAMA is developing a framework to resume the collection of the levy from helicopters operating at oil rig platforms and private helipads throughout the country. The director did not specify when the agency would recommence the collection of this fee.
He said: “In the next few weeks, we will recommence the collection of $300 landing fee from helicopter operators. We started earlier, but the government directed us to suspend it then due to some issues in the country then, but this time around, we will resume the collection.”
John, in his paper, further highlighted the substantial costs associated with providing navigation aids, Air Traffic Management (ATM) equipment, and maintaining the necessary workforce at NAMA.
He expressed concern over the 50 per cent deduction of NAMA’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) into the federal treasury, noting that the agency is also obligated to remit 10 per cent of its payments to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Additionally, NAMA faces several financial challenges, including budgetary constraints, difficulties in revenue collection, elevated operational expenses, and reliance on foreign exchange, among others.
He indicated that these financial challenges hinder the agency’s ability to achieve its objectives, which are to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient air navigation services.
“These constraints hinder our ability to modernise equipment, maintain infrastructure, and ensure consistent training for our personnel,” he said.
Ademola Adedayo, in his presentation on “Safety Implications in fiscal constraint and political interference”, said fiscal constraint and political interference have safety implications.