The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has clarified the application of the US$300 helicopter levy for air navigational services, confirming that the charge remains payable by upstream petroleum operators to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The clarification was contained in a circular dated August 28, 2026, signed by the Commission Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, following a review of concerns raised by upstream operators over the introduction and implementation of the levy.
Under the decision, the US$300 charge per helicopter landing remains in force and is to be paid to NAMA through its approved collection mechanism.
However, the NUPRC clarified that the Terminal Navigational Charge (TNC) does not apply to helicopter landings at private offshore facilities and petroleum platforms.
The Commission said the TNC applies to government-owned aerodromes and remains applicable to helicopter operations outside upstream petroleum activities.
Such operations include medical evacuation, private charter services and agricultural activities, according to the circular.
The clarification follows the constitution of a Ministerial Review Committee by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on March 9, 2026, to examine concerns surrounding the levy’s introduction, structure and operationalisation.
The committee included representatives of the Ministry of Aviation, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NAMA and NAMA’s appointed consultant.
Levy to be treated as statutory air navigation charge
The NUPRC further directed that the US$300 helicopter levy should be treated as a statutory air navigation charge for cost-reporting purposes.
The Commission said it would issue further guidance on the appropriate classification and reporting requirements.
The clarification is expected to provide greater certainty for upstream operators, licensees, lessees and helicopter service providers in structuring their contractual, invoicing and cost-recovery arrangements.
NAMA gets flight-monitoring mandate
The circular also requires NAMA to deploy low-altitude flight monitoring and surveillance systems to strengthen national security and airspace governance.
Upstream operators are expected to provide flight manifests, movement logs and offshore activity data as part of the monitoring framework.
The requirement places additional emphasis on transparency and monitoring of helicopter movements serving Nigeria’s offshore petroleum industry.
NUPRC insists on consultation before new charges
The Commission also reminded stakeholders that no new or revised fee, levy or charge affecting upstream petroleum operations should be introduced without prior consultation with the NUPRC and relevant stakeholders.
According to the Commission, the requirement is consistent with Section 25 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
The NUPRC urged operators, licensees, lessees and helicopter service providers to align their contractual, invoicing and cost-recovery arrangements with the latest clarification.
The decision effectively maintains the $300 helicopter landing levy while distinguishing it from the Terminal Navigational Charge and setting out additional requirements for flight monitoring and stakeholder consultation.
