The Nigerian aviation sector is facing a new wave of controversy as operators and stakeholders strongly resisted the reintroduced $300 helicopter landing fee ordered by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The standoff, which has been quietly building for months, has now forced the Federal Government to shift the burden of payment onto oil companies and passengers instead of the operators.
The dispute dates back to 2024, when the Aviation Ministry first announced that helicopter operators would pay a $300 landing charge.
The collection, assigned to NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited on behalf of the government, was to cover landings at aerodromes, airstrips, helipads, floating production storage units, and offshore oil platforms.
Operators immediately rejected the levy, describing it as excessive, unlawful, and unjustifiable.
Despite repeated attempts at dialogue, including several industry forums where the Minister exchanged pleasantries with operators, no middle ground was reached.
Industry leaders argue that they already pay multiple charges, including navigational fees to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and usage fees to private helipad owners.
Adding another levy, they say, is a burden designed to cripple their operations.
In June 2025, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency attempted to enforce the directive, giving operators a seven-day compliance notice through a public advertorial.
The notice stressed that the levy aligned with global best practices and similar charges exist in other International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) member states.
However, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) quickly countered, pointing out that NAMA provides no additional services at many of the facilities in question.
Citing ICAO Documents 9082 and 9161, as well as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, the AON argued that imposing such a fee without corresponding services violates international aviation rules.
Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, AON’s spokesperson, said:
“The imposition of helicopter landing and take-off fees at private helipads and oil rig platforms is unlawful, as NAMA does not provide any service to justify such charges.”
With resistance from operators proving unshakeable, the Aviation Ministry redirected the levy to oil and gas companies whose employees and contractors frequently use helicopters to access offshore platforms.
NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Abdullahi Musa, confirmed that passengers, not operators, will now bear the $300 fee.
Invoices will be issued directly to oil companies, particularly those operating in the Gulf of Guinea.
This adjustment has sparked another round of backlash. Several oil firms, including Shell, have privately indicated their unwillingness to comply.
Executives reportedly view the levy as “unthinkable” and outside their scope of responsibility.
Aero Contractors’ CEO, Capt. Ado Sanusi, criticized the government’s approach, warning that unchecked fees could spiral out of control.
“If you allow $300 today, tomorrow it will be $500, and next year, maybe $1,000 per landing. There is no basis for it, and oil companies know this,” he stated.
Other industry experts, including Capt. Muhammed Badamosi and aviation analyst John Ojikutu, echoed similar concerns, questioning whether the government had the right to impose landing fees on privately owned helipads or oil rigs.
One operator described the levy as “illegal, unprecedented, and comparable to being asked to pay parking fees in your own garage.”
Supporters of the levy argue that similar fees exist in advanced markets such as Europe and Asia, where aviation regulators impose landing charges to fund air navigation services.
However, Nigeria’s case differs, as operators claim no additional services are being provided in return for the fee.
The controversy also comes at a time when aviation operators are struggling with rising costs, from high fuel prices to multiple regulatory charges, weakening the industry’s ability to remain competitive.
The oil sector, now targeted as the alternative payer, faces its own financial pressures amid fluctuating global crude prices.
With both operators and oil companies pushing back, it remains unclear how the Federal Government plans to enforce the controversial levy. Legal battles are likely, as industry players insist the policy contradicts ICAO’s global aviation standards.
For now, the $300 helicopter landing fee stands as one of the most divisive issues in Nigeria’s aviation sector in recent years — a test of how far the government can push its revenue-raising agenda against entrenched industry opposition.