The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has strongly condemned recent allegations made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, accusing Nigerian pilots of operating aircraft while under the influence of marijuana.
In a statement issued on Friday by NAAPE’s Public Relations Officer, Engr. Blessing Ahmadu, the association described Kalu’s claims as “baseless” and “highly damaging” to the integrity and professionalism of Nigerian aviation workers.
Kalu, while speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, alleged that “some Nigerian pilots smoke Indian hemp and fly aircraft while high.”
The comment has drawn intense criticism from the aviation community.
Reacting to the senator’s statement, NAAPE President Capt. Bunmi Gindeh urged Kalu to either present verifiable evidence to regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) or issue a public retraction and apology.
Gindeh emphasized that Nigerian pilots and engineers operate under strict international safety and medical standards, including random drug and alcohol tests, all enforced by the NCAA in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.
“Safety is the number one priority in our profession. No licensed pilot in Nigeria is permitted to use psychoactive substances,” Gindeh said.
“These types of reckless statements can demoralize professionals, alarm the public, and damage the reputation of our aviation sector.”
NAAPE further highlighted the multiple layers of oversight involved in aviation operations in Nigeria.
These include: Pre-flight medical evaluations, recurrent simulator training, random toxicology screening and continuous monitoring by both airlines and regulators.
The association also reaffirmed confidence in the NCAA’s leadership and the agency’s consistent enforcement of global aviation standards.
While acknowledging Kalu’s right to contribute to public discourse, NAAPE cautioned against uninformed or exaggerated statements, especially by public figures, that could compromise public confidence in air travel.
“We find it troubling that individuals without aviation expertise often speak as if they are insiders,” Gindeh said.
“One would expect that a former airline operator like Senator Kalu would understand how the system works — sadly, this isn’t the case.”
NAAPE has extended an invitation to Kalu and the Senate Committee on Aviation to engage with aviation professionals and better understand the robust safety protocols and certification processes that govern the industry.
“Unfounded accusations do more harm than good. We urge the Senator to either prove his claim or withdraw it respectfully,” the statement concluded.
