The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has issued a strong warning to oil and gas companies over their continued failure to pay the mandatory $300 helicopter landing levy.

The agency threatened to impose strict sanctions on defaulters, including withholding flight clearances and potentially shutting down non-compliant operations.

In accordance with its statutory mandate, the NAMA has called on oil and gas operators to ensure full compliance with the NAMA Act by promptly paying helicopter landing levies.

These charges apply to air navigation services provided by the agency across Nigerian airspace, covering operations at oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, FPSOs, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, NAMA disclosed that it has been engaging oil and gas operators since 2022—working alongside Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited—to enforce compliance with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Act of 2022.

However, the agency noted that despite multiple written communications, compliance remains poor, attributing the situation to the influence of certain individuals within the sector who have actively undermined adherence to regulatory requirements.

The agency however did not name the defaulting oil companies and the individuals egging them to disobey its regulations.

“Since 2022, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, in partnership with Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited, has consistently issued multiple written communications to engage oil and gas operators on the statutory provisions of the NAMA Act. Regrettably, these proactive efforts have not yielded the desired compliance, due to the influence of certain individuals who have worked with them against adherence to established regulatory requirements,” the statement read in part.

NAMA emphasized that the enforcement of helicopter landing levies is consistent with global aviation practices, noting that similar charges are implemented by other International Civil Aviation Organisation member states across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

“These levies are essential to sustaining the maintenance, upgrading, and acquisition of modern air navigation infrastructure, critical for the safe and efficient management of Nigeria’s airspace, particularly given the growing operations of drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft,” it stated.

According to NAMA, the agency holds exclusive authority to provide and manage all air navigation services and air traffic control within Nigerian airspace, including at both public and private aerodromes. It stated that Sections 8 and 9 of the NAMA Act expressly prohibit any individual or entity other than NAMA from delivering these services.

The agency warned that sanctions would be applied to defaulting operators, including “denying or withholding flight clearances to any operator until outstanding charges have been paid by the operator or a security or guarantee has been given to the satisfaction of the Agency for the payment of the charges or fees.”

In more serious cases, especially those involving unauthorized helipads or platforms operating without NAMA clearance, the agency stated it would seek ministerial approval to shut down or relocate such facilities. It added that this action would be taken in accordance with Section 8(3) of the NAMA Act.

As a result, NAMA has given the affected oil companies a seven-day deadline to present their payment plans to Naebi Dynamic Concepts Ltd, warning that enforcement measures will be taken against those who fail to comply.

“As responsible and law-abiding international corporate entities, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency hereby calls on all affected oil companies to, within seven days from the date of this publication, formally communicate to Naebi Dynamic Concepts Ltd their proposed payment plans and modalities for applicable air navigation levies.

“Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will trigger appropriate enforcement measures, including the denial of flight clearances for helicopter operations to oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, Floating Production Storage and Offloading units, helipads, airstrips, and aerodromes.

“This action is undertaken not merely to enforce regulatory compliance, but to safeguard national security, enhance aviation safety, promote operational sustainability, and ensure the continued efficiency of Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, all in alignment with international obligations and globally accepted best practices.”

It was earlier reported that the current helicopter landing levy regime has been a source of controversy within the oil and aviation sectors.

Introduced in 2024, the $300-per-landing fee drew strong backlash from helicopter operators, especially those serving the oil and gas industry.