The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency on Thursday disclosed that it would soon recommence the collection of the controversial $300 landing fee on helicopter operators in the country.
The helicopter operators had kicked against the Nigerian government’s directive on the excuse that the directive, apart from being illegal, capable of inflicting additional financial burden on their existence.
In a statement which emanated from the ministry and signed by the head, press and public affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi, in May, the ministry insisted that the introduction of helicopter landing levies is in line with international best practices to enhance the quality of helicopter operations as a cost recovery measure.
The ministry, while recognizing the importance of helicopter operations in Nigeria’s aviation industry and with the commitment to implementing international best practices in helicopter operations through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), cited other climes like the United States, United Kingdom, India and other countries where such levies are charged
However, speaking at the ongoing 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association on Thursday, in Kano State, the agency’s Director, Air Traffic Services, Tayo John, said the fee collection would ease the agency’s current financial burden.
He explained that 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.
John 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, but this time around, we will resume the collection,” he added.