Helicopter landing levy hailed as South-South city chambers seek ways to boost job creation

…COSSCCIMA strives to string together region’s economic blocs

The levy introduced by the federal government on landing of helicopters seems to impress business owners in the south-south.

The business group known as the Coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (COSSCCIMA) which met in Port Harcourt to plot the blueprint of the economy of the south-south said the levy has brought excitement in the oil region.

Indutimi Komonibo, COSSCCIMA President, who spoke at the regional summit of city chambers in the region, said the levy is one of the most promising developments.

Komonibo described the initiative by the Federal Government as a “game-changer” for regional economic stimulation.

Beyond its regulatory function, the levy is expected to create direct and indirect jobs in aviation logistics, air traffic control, and helipad operations, generate employment through infrastructure upgrades, including radar systems, communication networks, and navigational services. It will support youth training and deployment in airspace monitoring and aviation safety roles, especially in collaboration with oil companies operating offshore.

Komonibo emphasized that the levy would not only enhance safety and efficiency in offshore operations but also serve as a catalyst for community development and youth empowerment.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for backing forward-thinking policies and urged swift implementation of the initiative to maximize its impact.

Komonibo called for stronger synergy between governments, private enterprises, and regional stakeholders to unlock the full potential of the region’s economic assets.

The president stressed that while government interventions were essential, they were not sufficient to address the present huge scale of unemployment.

“Government appointments cannot produce financially independent citizens at scale. We need entrepreneurs and investors to step up and build ecosystems that empower others,” he said.

The Coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce reaffirmed its commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and employment opportunities across the South-South geopolitical zone.

The BoT chairman of COSSCCIMA, Billy Harry, also spoke at the summit, stressing that one of the coalition’s key mandates is to continually seek economic opportunities within the South-South to empower youths and reduce the risk of social unrest and militancy.

“Our mission is to create an environment where no youth from the South-South should remain jobless,” Harry declared.

One of the members of the Coalition, Isaac Wonwu, who also serves as the first deputy president of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), identified power generation as a critical area where COSSCCIMA can drive a regional economic project.

He noted that with better access to reliable electricity, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), manufacturers, and service-providers in the region would flourish, leading to job creation and wealth generation.

He suggested that the coalition could initiate dialogues with key stakeholders to explore independent power projects (IPPs) tailored to the region’s industrial needs.

In addition, he urged governments of the region to create tax friendly environments, basic infrastructure, and ensure security for businesses to grow.

Another board member from Cros River State, Christabel Ndubuisi, who chairs the Agric Trade Group of the organization, urged women to take proactive steps in equipping themselves with relevant skills to fully tap into the opportunities presented by COSSCCIMA’s economic development vision.

She emphasized that by building their capacity, women can play leading roles in driving entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth across the South-South region.

Founded in 2017, COSSCCIMA has served as a strategic advocacy platform, helping shape people-centered policies and a sustainable economic blueprint for the South-South. The coalition continues to spotlight key sectors—oil and gas, maritime, agriculture, mineral resources, and aviation—as engines of growth.

The coalition seemed to be a child o necessity when the commission set up for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta (BRACED) states died a sudden death due to political differences that tore the region apart when the Goodluck Jonathan-led FG frontally fought then Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who also was chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

This was said to make it impossible to convene any further meeting after the summits in Calabar (Cross River) and Asaba (Delta State. The next for Port Harcourt (Rivers State), never held and the BRACED meeting never held to this day.

By this, the lofty goals of the Commission died a natural death, thereby crushing all the ideas tabled for implementation. Joe Keshi, the director-general, continued to lament over the death to a long time.

BRACED commission was to among all other things, prioritise projects to reduce repetition of projects such as airports, seaports, etc. Keshi particularly observed that it was not economical for every state to build an airport or seaport because ships that bring goods would not see goods to carry back, thus leading to high freight charges for ships to call at the south-south ports.

Other issues were to be power, roads, export products, security, etc.

The COSSCCIMA seems to be doing the much it can while hoping that their strides may spike fresh interest to return BRACED Commission.