The ongoing controversy surrounding the $300 helicopter landing levy imposed on oil and gas shuttle services has taken a new dimension, as aviation stakeholders and industry players intensify calls for its immediate withdrawal.
Captain Ado Sanusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, one of Nigeria’s leading aviation companies, has publicly condemned the helicopter levy, describing it as lacking regulatory backing, economic merit, and operational justification.
The contentious levy was introduced through a contract granted by the federal government to a private firm, NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited, during the tenure of former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika. The deal allows NAEBI to collect $300 from helicopter operators per landing at oil and gas platforms or bases across Nigeria.
Despite opposition, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) recently issued a directive backing the fee and clarified that it is payable by oil and gas companies—not the helicopter operators themselves, many of whom are members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). However, the operators say the charges have no legal basis and question NAEBI’s value offering.
Captain Sanusi, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday, challenged the legitimacy of the fee, stating that NAEBI has not provided any measurable service, facility, or aviation-related infrastructure that would warrant such charges in line with global standards like those of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“That payment of the $300 fee is not part of ICAO charges for cost recovery because you must invest before you can recover cost,” Sanusi said.
He explained that in any typical ICAO-sanctioned cost recovery system, an entity must first build infrastructure—like navigational aids, radar coverage, or communication facilities—before charging users. However, no such investment or infrastructure has been made by NAEBI, according to Sanusi.
“If NAEBI or any party claims to have invested in improving surveillance, navigation, or communication for helicopter operations, let them show Nigerians the infrastructure. Without that, it’s a rent-seeking strategy,” he added.
The aviation expert also faulted the government’s decision to outsource aviation charges to a non-state actor, arguing that levying users without offering tangible services amounts to extortion and may open the floodgates for arbitrary and illegal charges in the sector.
Sanusi’s comments mirror the sentiment of several industry operators who have long criticized what they call “non-transparent concessions” in Nigeria’s aviation sector, especially under the former aviation administration.
The development has left helicopter shuttle operators and oil companies in a precarious situation. While NAMA threatens sanctions for non-compliance, many oil companies are reportedly ignoring the directive, citing lack of clarity and legal standing.
Industry stakeholders are now calling on the Federal Government to review and revoke the policy, especially amid growing concerns over the proliferation of unregulated charges and aviation corruption.
“No private entity should be allowed to tax aviation services without a proven value-add. This levy lacks the force of law, technical justification, and industry buy-in,” an AON official told Daily Trust under anonymity.
Beyond transparency concerns, analysts warn that imposing arbitrary fees could discourage investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas aviation logistics, weaken competitiveness, and increase the cost of production—particularly in an industry already struggling with FX scarcity and high maintenance costs.
The controversy has also reignited calls for the strengthening of Nigeria’s civil aviation regulatory framework. Critics say the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and relevant bodies must reassert oversight authority and ensure that only services aligned with global aviation practices are monetized.
The dispute has now become a litmus test for the current administration’s commitment to transparency, investor confidence, and responsible economic governance.
Until a formal policy reversal is made, the standoff between helicopter operators, oil companies, NAMA, and NAEBI may continue to disrupt smooth operations in Nigeria’s crucial energy aviation space.