NCAA dismisses Orji Kalu’s allegation that Nigerian pilots use drugs
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has refuted claims made by former Abia State governor and senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, alleging that some Nigerian pilots engage in the use of illicit drugs.
Kalu, speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, accused aviation regulatory bodies, particularly the NCAA, of negligence in monitoring pilots and ensuring the safety of flight operations. The lawmaker claimed that weak oversight poses a serious risk to air travellers across the country.
In a video of the plenary session aired by the African Independent Television (AIT), Kalu criticised what he described as the lax attitude of regulatory agencies toward enforcing safety standards in the aviation industry.
READ ALSO: Orji Kalu: Tinubu drives around Abuja at night, aware of Nigerians’ suffering
He alleged that some pilots operate under the influence of substances such as Indian hemp and that the NCAA and other agencies like the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have failed to conduct regular on-the-spot checks or drug tests on flight crews.
“I have on many occasions stopped flying because of the inadequacy of pilots’ preparation,” Kalu said. “Some of them smoke Indian hemp. The NCAA and NAMA are not doing proper checks or monitoring the health and readiness of pilots before flights.”
The senator further argued that many modern aircraft models, such as the Boeing 737-500, have automated landing systems, suggesting that some aviation incidents could be traced to pilot negligence rather than technical failure.
READ ALSO: Orji Kalu weeps at Senate valedictory session, recalls prison sentence in 2019
He added, “Most new-generation aircraft have autopilot and automated landing systems, so human error in landing or take-off is inexcusable. I have personally asked some pilots not to fly me when I felt something was off. Agencies must be stricter in their oversight.”
Kalu also urged the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to prioritise the maintenance of airport runways, lamenting that several runways across the country are in poor condition.
Meanwhile, the NCAA, in a swift reaction, denied the senator’s allegations, describing them as unfounded and damaging to the integrity of the aviation industry. The authority assured the public that pilots in Nigeria undergo regular medical, psychological, and safety assessments in line with international standards, maintaining that the nation’s aviation sector remains one of the safest in Africa.
READ ALSO: NCAA suspends 2 ValueJet pilots for safety breach at Abuja airport
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