• NCAA dismisses senator’s statement as inaccurate
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation industry have criticised former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Kalu, over his claim that “some Nigerian pilots” consume marijuana before flights and that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has failed in its oversight responsibilities.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Kalu alleged that the NCAA had been negligent in carrying out on-the-spot drug assessments of pilots before flights, a situation he described as dangerous to flight safety.
But in defence of the pilots, a pilot with the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Mohammed Badamasi expressed disappointment with Kalu over the statement.
He insisted that Kalu’s claim was unsubstantiated and challenged the senator to present evidence to support his argument.
“I know some pilots who were his friends as the Governor of Abia State, whom he invited to party with him. Probably, that was when he realised that some of them were doing drugs, especially the Indian hemp. Why didn’t he report then?” he queried.
Also, a pilot with the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick was mild in his criticism of Kalu, but said the allegation was abnormal in the sector.
Caulcrick, in an interview with our correspondent, said the senator had a long association with pilots, having owned and operated an airline, Slok Air, which went under about 20 years ago.
He explained that Kalu might have made the statement due to his private knowledge about the pilots and the entire industry.
He, however, affirmed that the NCAA conducts random drug checks on airline crews as demanded by global practice.
Also, an industry analyst, Adeola Fadairo, described the allegation as unfounded and capable of damaging the country’s aviation reputation.
Fadairo noted that Kalu’s allegation lacked verifiable data, empirical research, or regulatory validation, stressing that it also had the capacity to erode passengers’ confidence in the sector.
Meanwhile, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, in a statement yesterday, said contrary to the impression created by the senator, the NCAA maintained a rigorous and internationally recognised system for certifying and monitoring the medical and professional fitness of all pilots operating in Nigeria
He asserted: “No pilot is permitted to operate a Nigerian-registered aircraft without holding both a valid pilot licence and a current medical certificate, as required by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 8.4.1.4.”
“Holders of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPL) and Airline Transport Pilot Licences (ATPL) are, by the provisions of Nig. CARs 2.3.5.1 and 2.3.7.1, required to possess a Class 1 Medical Certificate before they are allowed to operate.”
Najomo explained that the medical certificates are issued only after comprehensive aero-medical evaluations by NCAA Authorised Aviation Medical Examiners (AAMEs) followed by approval of the medical report by NCAA’s in-house aero-medical assessors.
