Helicopter Landing Levy Vital for Aviation Safety, Not a Burden – Expert Counters Industry Critics
A former Director of Air Transport Management in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hassan Tai Ejibunu, has defended the recently enforced Helicopter Landing Levy, describing it as a strategic necessity rather than a financial burden.
His statement comes amid rising criticism from oil and gas stakeholders, particularly offshore operators, who argue the levy is punitive.
Ejibunu urged oil companies and other operators that rely heavily on helicopter transport for personnel and equipment to comply fully with the regulatory requirement approved by the Federal Government.
According to him, the levy is an essential contribution to the sustainability, modernisation, and expansion of Nigeria’s air navigation infrastructure — a critical backbone for both civilian and military aviation.
The levy, enforced by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has sparked debate across the energy sector.
Detractors argue the policy imposes an additional financial burden on oil companies operating offshore. However, Ejibunu warned that such a narrow view ignores the broader national interest.
“The levy, which is on a pay-as-you-use basis, is unavoidable and only charged for the use of Nigerian airspace and NAMA’s air navigational services,” Ejibunu explained. “NAMA’s infrastructure supports not only commercial flights but also helicopter operations to offshore platforms, military surveillance, and increasingly, the regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in our airspace.”
He noted that oil companies, as primary beneficiaries of NAMA’s air traffic systems and radar services, must shoulder part of the responsibility for maintaining those assets. “To suggest that oil companies should be exempted from contributing to their sustainability is both inequitable and short-sighted,” he stated.
Highlighting the critical reliance of offshore oil operations on safe and reliable air navigation services, Ejibunu warned that underfunding the system could result in serious consequences, including delays, accidents, or even national security breaches.
“Without adequate funding, these systems risk degradation,” he said. “Indeed, the absence of modern navigational infrastructure is a national security risk. As NAMA has flagged, outdated equipment and poor inter-agency coordination already pose threats to aviation security.”
Ejibunu stressed that in an age of evolving aerial threats and heightened drone activity, real-time monitoring and airspace management are vital.
He pointed out that even the military depends on NAMA’s infrastructure for coordinated operations, making its maintenance a matter of national sovereignty.
According to him, the levy is consistent with global best practices, especially in oil-producing countries, where user-based charges help fund aviation infrastructure.
“The oil companies operating in Nigeria, many of which are multinationals, are no strangers to such frameworks,” he added, accusing some local collaborators of enabling resistance to regulatory compliance.
He called on industry stakeholders to view the levy as a critical investment in national safety, operational continuity, and aviation security.
“The cost of a single aviation incident, whether in lives, environmental damage, or reputational loss to Nigeria’s rating in the global aviation community, would far outweigh the cumulative impact of this modest fee,” he stated.
“The Helicopter Landing Levy is not a burden. It is a shared responsibility. And in a sector as vital and high-risk as aviation, shared responsibility is the only path to sustainable progress and enhanced national security,” Ejibunu concluded.
