Fakoyejo OlalekanIn a bid to increase its revenue generation, the Federal Government has inaugurated a team to collect landing and take-off fees from helicopters operating on all oil platforms within the country.
According to report, representatives of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Rivers state government and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) are among the collection committee of Rivers State.
Prime Business Africa understands that this is expected to affect earnings of companies like Caverton Helicopers and Bristow Helicopters who offer air travel services to oil companies operating in Nigeria.
The federal government plans to start collection through its consultant, Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited, managed by Chike Stanley. Both the committee and Naebi will collaborate to have access to all the platforms, including oil rigs, airstrips, aerodromes, helipads, and helipods in Rivers state.
Speaking on the inauguration, Stanley said, “Our mandate is to collect helicopter landing charges for IOCs and LOCs on all the platforms, oil rigs, airstrips, aerodromes, helipads, among others.
“It is also solving security problems. It has been tough, but it has been wonderful.” He said, adding that, “We are getting there. We have started.
“Already there is compliance at the airport and we hope to have more compliance. We thank the minister for always giving us all the support that we need.
“I thank the President of Nigeria, who has created this platform. I thank the minister of aviation, who has stood his ground to ensure that jobs are created for Nigerian youths.
In the next five years this platform will generate employment for more than 15,000 youths across the country.” Stanley said. He stated further that, “This will help to curb some levels of insecurity. This opportunity will help to engage them.
“We have called the stakeholders to educate them on what has happened. They have written to NNPC, they have written to the ministry of petroleum. We are also taking people from these communities to train, employ and mentor.
“The essence of the meeting is a message that nobody is coming to harass any IOCs. This is a way to tell the IOCs that the government has directed access to be created to implement this.
“When you see them being received, as an IOC, you know that this is the standard practice across the global aviation industry.
“This is an implementation committee for Rivers State. We are going to move from state to state. It is an implementation team to carry out the responsibility given by the federal government.”
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