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NUPRC Confirms $300 Helicopter Levy
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has confirmed that the $300 helicopter levy per landing remains applicable to upstream petroleum operations, while the Terminal Navigational Charge (TNC) does not apply to landings at private offshore facilities or oil platforms.
The clarification, signed by NUPRC Chief Executive Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, followed concerns raised by industry stakeholders over the levy’s structure and implementation.
“The TNC is payable only in respect of a landing at a government-owned aerodrome and does not apply to a landing at a private offshore facility or platform,” NUPRC stated.
The commission said the $300 levy must be paid to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and treated as a statutory air navigation charge for cost-reporting purposes. Operators have been directed to align contractual, invoicing and cost-recovery arrangements accordingly.
NAMA is required to deploy low-altitude flight monitoring and surveillance systems to strengthen airspace governance and national security. Flight manifests, movement logs and offshore activity data will also be required from operators.
NUPRC stressed that no new or revised fee affecting upstream petroleum operations should be introduced without prior consultation, in line with Section 25 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
The $300 levy has been contentious since April 2024, when the Federal Government authorised NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited to collect it at aerodromes, helipads, FPSOs, FSOs and oil platforms. Opposition from helicopter operators led to suspension in June 2024, reinstatement in May 2025, and eventual transfer of payment responsibility to oil companies.
The latest clarification settles the distinction between the statutory levy and the TNC, particularly for helicopters supporting offshore petroleum operations, ensuring compliance while easing industry concerns.
