The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has once again adopted an approach that may lead to conflict with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) as it intends to recommence the collection of the vexed $300 landing fee from helicopter operators.
The agency’s director of air traffic services, Mr. Tayo John, stated this at 53rd annual general meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) in Kano.
He said the collection of the fee would ease the agency’s current financial burden.
John said the federal government prevailed on it to drop the fee when it commenced its collection a few months ago, but declared that this time around, there was no going back.
The ATS director, who was silent on the specific time of collection of the fee 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 emphasised that the cost of providing the navigation aids, air traffic management (ATM) equipment and maintaining the required workforce by NAMA was huge.
He also lamented the deduction of 50 per cent of the internally generated revenue (IGR) of NAMA into the federal purse, adding that the agency also pays 10 per cent of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) remittance to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
He listed some of the other financial constraints faced by NAMA to include budgetary limitations, revenue collection issues, high operational costs and dependence on foreign exchange, among others.
According to him, the financial constraints limited the agency’s capacity to fulfil set targets, geared towards the mandate to provide 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.
Recall that the government, through the ministry of aviation and aerospace development, had engaged NAEBI Dynamic Concept to collect the fee from helicopter landings and take-offs on and from oil rig platforms and private helipads.
But stakeholders queried the collection of the fee and choice of the company, wondering about the structure NAEBI put in place to deserve such payment from helicopter companies.
For instance, the AON had argued that it was clear that there was neither legal framework nor legal justification for the company to introduce such a fee.
The association also posited that one of the functions under NAMA Act 2022 was to provide navigation services necessary for the operation of aircraft taking off and landing and integrate them into the overall air traffic systems within the Nigerian airspace.
Following the concerns raised by the stakeholders, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had in May 2024 suspended the $300 landing fee for helicopter operators.
He, however, said that further actions on the matter would be taken after a review committee submits its report for scrutiny.
He said in a statement that the committee had a meeting with the executives of the AON on the issue, which prompted the suspension of the levy.
“Following a meeting with the AON executive on the issue bordering on helicopter landing levies collection at aerodromes, helipads, airstrips and others, minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has temporarily suspended the enforcement granted Messrs NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd, by the Federal Government, as consultants to collect such levies.
“The suspension is with effect from 30th May, 2024,” the statement said.
