The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, has called on the federal government to withdraw the payment of $300 landing fees by helicopter companies providing shuttle services to oil and gas operators in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited received approval from the federal government under the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to collect $300 helicopter landing fee from oil and gas service providers.

Supporting the payment, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) last month issued a directive on the payment, saying the money ought to be paid by the oil and gas companies and not the members of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) comprising helicopter operators.

It was however learnt that the oil and gas companies have not been complying amidst threat by NAMA to sanction operators.

But Sanusi stated yesterday that the company demanding the money has not provided any service to warrant payment for cost recovery.

He pointed out that if NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited, had provided any infrastructure in any way like enhancing communications or any other kind of service, the levy could be warranted.

“Well, you know my stand has always been very clear on this. That payment of $300 fee is not part of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) charges for cost recovery because you must invest; then you can now recover the cost. And the investment you are going to do must provide some value to the customer. Let’s say I am investing in radios or I am investing in navigational aids; I will tell the customers I am investing in this and over a period of five years, I want to recoup my investment. But in this one there is no investment.

If they say there is an investment or the company says there is an investment, they should bring it out and let Nigerians see the investment they have made in either surveillance or in navigation or in communication. But you have not invested anything and you just put a levy, and you are not a government organisation to say that you want to tax people."