FG suspends helicopter levy after pushback from stakeholders

The federal government says it has temporarily suspended the helicopter landing levies on operators.

On April 26, the federal government granted exclusive rights to Messrs NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Limited, an aviation consulting firm, to collect helicopter landing levies across the country.

The ministry of aviation and aerospace development, on May 14, said the introduction of helicopter landing levies is to sustain surveillance and is in line with global best practices.

According to a statement on Friday by Odutayo Oluseyi, the ministry’s spokesperson, the suspension follows deliberation between Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) executives and Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development.

“Following a meeting with the AON executive on the issue bordering on Helicopter landing levies collection at Aerodromes, Helipads, Air Strips, etc, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has temporarily suspended the enforcement granted Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd, by the Federal Government, as consultants to collect such levies,” Oluseyi said.

“The suspension is with effect from 30th May, 2024. This, the Minister said is as a result of clamor for review by some stakeholders in the industry.”

According to the statement, Keyamo has constituted a committee comprising members from the ministry and its relevant agencies, AON, international oil companies (IOCs), and Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept.

Oluseyi said they are charged to look into the concerns raised by stakeholders and submit a report on or before the end of June.

“Messers NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd was granted the exclusive right by the Federal Government as consultants to collect such levies which stakeholders have expressed their reservation on the appropriateness of the levies,” the spokesperson said.

The recommendations of the committee, according to the statement, would proffer a way forward.

The development comes after helicopter operators rejected the fee, saying it could pose a serious threat to the sustainability and viability of the helicopter transport sector.