By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced that the $300-per-landing helicopter levy for air navigational services will remain in force, following the conclusion of a ministerial review of charges affecting upstream petroleum operations.
The Commission, in a circular dated August 28, 2026 and signed by its Chief Executive, Mrs. Oluverimeyiwa Eyesan, said the levy would continue to be payable to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) through its approved collection mechanism.
The decision followed concerns raised by the NUPRC on behalf of upstream industry stakeholders over the introduction, structure and operationalisation of the Helicopter Levy for Air Navigational Services.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development had, on March 9, 2026, constituted a Ministerial Review Committee comprising representatives of the NUPRC, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), NAMA and NAMA’s appointed collection consultant.
According to the NUPRC, the committee concluded that the $300 levy per landing should be retained as a statutory air navigation charge.
However, it clarified that the Terminal Navigational Charge (TNC) would only apply to helicopter landings at government owned aerodromes and would not apply to landings at private offshore facilities or platforms in connection with upstream petroleum operations.
The TNC would remain applicable to helicopter operations outside upstream petroleum activities, including medical evacuation, private charter and agricultural operations.
The Commission further directed that the $300 levy be treated as a statutory air navigation charge for cost-reporting purposes.
It said the applicable classification and reporting requirements, including the treatment of any cost element previously recorded under the TNC for upstream helicopter services, would be communicated through relevant regulatory instruments.
As part of the review outcome, NAMA is expected to deploy low-altitude flight monitoring and surveillance systems in the interest of national security and airspace governance.
The NUPRC said the implementation would require flight manifests, movement logs and offshore activity data, with NAMA expected to communicate the specific requirements to operators.
The Commission also warned that no new or revised fee, levy or charge having a direct impact on upstream petroleum operations should be introduced without prior consultation with the NUPRC and other relevant stakeholders, in line with Section 25 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
The NUPRC directed all upstream petroleum operators, licensees, lessees and their helicopter service providers to take note of the review outcome and align their contractual, invoicing and cost-recovery arrangements accordingly.
