The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has announced plans to reintroduce the controversial $300 landing fee for helicopter operators in the country.
Speaking at the ongoing 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association in Kano, Tayo John, NAMA’s Director of Air Traffic Services, revealed that the agency will soon resume the fee collection, which had been suspended months ago following a directive from the Federal Government.
“We started earlier, but the government directed us to suspend it due to some issues in the country, but this time around, we will resume the collection,” John said in his address.
The landing fee, originally introduced as part of efforts to ease NAMA’s financial strain, has been a subject of significant debate within the aviation sector.
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John further stated that the reintroduction of the fee is critical to alleviating the agency’s ongoing financial challenges.
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“In the next few weeks, we will recommence the collection of $300 landing fee from helicopter operators. The government’s earlier intervention was temporary, and now, there is no going back,” he affirmed.
The landing fee was initially enforced earlier this year but faced swift pushback, prompting the suspension.
However, with NAMA’s financial position growing increasingly strained, the agency has confirmed that it will move forward with its plans, despite the earlier controversy.