KEY POINTS
- $300 helicopter landing levy remains payable to NAMA.
- TNC will not apply to private offshore platforms and facilities.
- NUPRC must be consulted before new upstream-related charges are introduced.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has provided fresh clarification on helicopter-related charges affecting Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry, offering some relief to operators involved in offshore activities.
The clarification followed a review of the controversial Helicopter Levy for Air Navigational Services, which had generated concerns among oil and gas companies and their helicopter service providers over additional costs associated with offshore operations.
In a circular dated August 28, 2026, and signed by NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission confirmed that the $300 per-landing Helicopter Levy will remain in effect.
The levy is payable to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) through its approved collection mechanism.
The charge had been a source of tension between upstream operators and aviation authorities, particularly because helicopter transportation is essential to the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies between the mainland and offshore oil and gas facilities.
Relief on Terminal Navigational Charge
The major relief for offshore operators concerns the Terminal Navigational Charge (TNC).
Following the review, the Ministerial Review Committee determined that the TNC is payable only when helicopters land at government-owned aerodromes.
This means the charge does not apply to helicopter landings at privately owned offshore facilities, oil rigs or platforms.
The clarification is expected to reduce operating costs for petroleum companies that depend heavily on helicopter services to support offshore exploration and production activities.
However, the TNC remains applicable to helicopter operations that are not directly connected to upstream petroleum activities. These include medical evacuation flights, private charter services and agricultural operations.
The review was initiated after NUPRC raised concerns on behalf of upstream industry stakeholders about the way the helicopter levy had been introduced, structured and implemented.
In response, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development established a Ministerial Review Committee on March 9, 2026, to examine the charges and their implications for the petroleum sector.
The committee brought together representatives from NUPRC, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NAMA and NAMA’s appointed collection consultant.
