…retains $300 landing fee on Gov’t aerodomes
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has ruled that oil and gas operators will not be required to pay the Terminal Navigational Charge (TNC) when helicopters supporting upstream petroleum operations land at private offshore facilities or platforms.
The clarification follows concerns raised by upstream operators over the introduction and enforcement of a $300-per-landing helicopter levy for air navigational services payable to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
In a circular dated August 28, 2026, and signed by the Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the NUPRC stated that the resolution follows a review by a Ministerial Review Committee constituted by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on March 9, 2026.
The committee included representatives from the NUPRC, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), NAMA, and NAMA’s appointed revenue collection consultant.
Under the committee’s resolution, the $300 levy per landing is retained and remains payable to NAMA through its approved collection mechanism.
However, the NUPRC clarified that the TNC applies strictly to helicopter landings at government-owned aerodromes and does not apply to landings at private offshore facilities or oil and gas platforms.
The Commission noted that the TNC will continue to apply to helicopter operations outside upstream petroleum activities, including medical evacuations, private charters, and agricultural flights.
The NUPRC also directed that the $300 levy be classified as a statutory air navigation charge for cost-reporting purposes.
The Commission said it will issue detailed guidance on applicable classification and reporting requirements, including how any costs previously recorded under the TNC for upstream helicopter operations should be treated.
The resolution also provides for enhanced surveillance of low-altitude helicopter flights.
According to the NUPRC, NAMA is expected to deploy low-altitude flight monitoring and surveillance systems to bolster national security and airspace management.
The system will require the submission of flight manifests, movement logs, and offshore activity data, with NAMA expected to communicate the specific technical requirements to operators.
Meanwhile, the NUPRC issued a warning to government agencies regarding fiscal levies on the petroleum sector.
The Commission emphasized that no new or revised fee, levy, or charge directly affecting upstream petroleum operations should be introduced without prior consultation with the NUPRC and other key industry stakeholders.
It reiterated that such consultations must be conducted in strict compliance with Section 25 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The commission also directed upstream operators, licensees, lessees, and their aviation service contractors to align their commercial contracts, billing procedures, and cost-recovery frameworks with the committee’s decisions.