In the midst of the Naebi Dynamics Controversy, Minister Festus Keyamo by fiat, in an undated letter, recently reauthorized the firm exclusive rights to collect Helicopter Landing Levy at various aviation facilities across Nigeria. This move, purportedly aimed at monitoring helicopter movements in the Niger Delta, has sparked intense scrutiny and raised significant legal and procedural questions.
The Minister’s letter, bearing his signature, has triggered concerns regarding its legal standing. Under the Civil Aviation Act, only the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) possesses the authority to issue such directives. Keyamo’s intervention seems to encroach upon the regulatory prerogatives of the NCAA, thereby igniting debates over institutional boundaries and regulatory oversight.

Furthermore, the absence of explicit approval from the NCAA raises doubts about the legitimacy of the $300 levy imposed by Naebi Dynamics Concept. While the company justifies its role in monitoring helicopter activities, operators challenge the necessity and legality of such charges, especially in the absence of concrete evidence demonstrating enhanced aviation safety or regulatory compliance.
A critical aspect of the Naebi Dynamics controversy lies in its challenge to the role of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in monitoring flights around the country. By asserting that helicopters fly unchecked over Nigeria, Naebi Dynamics seeks to undermine NAMA’s mandate and legitimacy, thereby raising fundamental questions about the efficacy of government oversight in the aviation sector.
Operators have voiced concerns over Naebi Dynamics’ claims, arguing that every aircraft, including those operating in the Niger Delta region, files a flight plan with NAMA. This assertion underscores the existing regulatory framework designed to monitor and regulate airspace activity, thus debunking Naebi Dynamics’ narrative of unmonitored helicopter movements.
They also said if the charges were legitimate which they doubt, why will they be paying $300 to fly domestically to a private company in Nigeria.
Furthermore, operators say that no business will bear the brunt of that charge in dollars giving the number of takeoffs and landing one helicopter operator can do in a day. They stressed that this cost will be transferred to the masses and will eventually jerk up oil prices.
Moreover, Naebi Dynamics’ implication that government agencies have failed in their responsibility to secure the country’s airspace is deeply troubling. If left unchallenged, this narrative could erode public trust in regulatory institutions and jeopardize the safety and security of Nigeria’s airspace.
The decision to grant Naebi Dynamics exclusive rights to collect levies further complicates the situation, as it raises questions about the necessity and effectiveness of such measures in enhancing aviation security. With billions of dollars invested annually in initiatives like Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) and Low-level Multilateration in the Niger Delta, the involvement of a private company in revenue collection without adequate tracking facilities undermines the rationale behind these investments.
The controversy deepens as the firm issues invoices directly to airlines, bypassing established government financial protocols. Notably, these invoices lack the necessary tracking mechanisms, such as Remita Retrieval References (RRRs), raising concerns about transparency and accountability in revenue collection.
Moreover, the decision to collect levies in dollars through a private account raises red flags about financial oversight and the integrity of government revenue streams. At a time when Nigeria has made strides in financial transparency through initiatives like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the involvement of a private entity in revenue collection without proper monitoring mechanisms undermines these efforts.
The reverberations of this issue extend well beyond the aviation domain, implicating broader concerns surrounding governance, regulatory efficacy, and public accountability. If left unchecked, such instances of regulatory overreach and opaque revenue collection mechanisms could erode trust in government institutions and compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s regulatory framework.
As stakeholders and policymakers deliberate on the Naebi Dynamics saga, it is imperative to uphold the principles of legality, transparency, and accountability. The aviation industry, like any other sector, thrives on clear regulatory frameworks and adherence to established protocols. Any deviation from these norms’ risks undermining the safety, efficiency, and integrity of Nigeria’s airspace.