The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has retained the $300-per-landing Helicopter Levy for Air Navigational Services payable by upstream operators, while clarifying that the separate Terminal Navigational Charge (TNC) does not apply to helicopter landings at private offshore facilities and oil platforms.
The clarification ends months of uncertainty among oil operators and helicopter service providers over the application of aviation charges to offshore petroleum activities.
The commission has consequently directed oil companies and their aviation contractors to align their contracts, invoices and cost-recovery arrangements with the new position.
The NUPRC disclosed this in a circular dated August 28, 2026, made available to journalists on Monday. The circular was signed by the Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and addressed to upstream petroleum operators, licensees, lessees and helicopter service providers.
The directive followed concerns raised by the commission on behalf of upstream stakeholders over the introduction, structure and implementation of the helicopter levy.
In response, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, constituted a Ministerial Review Committee on March 9, 2026, to examine the disputed charges.
The committee comprised representatives of the NUPRC, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and NAMA’s appointed collection consultant.
Following its review, the committee resolved that the $300 levy per landing would remain in force and continue to be paid to NAMA through its approved collection mechanism.
The NUPRC stated in the circular: “The Levy of $300 (Three Hundred United States Dollars) per landing is retained and remains payable to NAMA through its approved collection mechanism.”
However, the regulator drew a distinction between the helicopter levy and the Terminal Navigational Charge, clarifying that the TNC applies only to landings at government-owned aerodromes.
As a result, helicopters transporting personnel or providing logistical support for upstream petroleum operations to private offshore facilities and oil platforms will not be required to pay the TNC for those landings.
The commission stated: “The Terminal Navigational Charge 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.”
The NUPRC, however, stressed that the TNC had not been scrapped.
According to the regulator, the charge remains applicable to helicopter operations that are not conducted in support of upstream petroleum activities.
