The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has strongly condemned the claim by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu that some Nigerian pilots smoke Indian hemp and operate aircraft while under the influence of drugs, describing it as baseless and damaging.
In a statement on Thursday, the association said the allegation, made during a plenary session of the National Assembly, was “unsubstantiated, malicious, and a dangerous misrepresentation” of the safety standards that govern aviation operations in Nigeria.
NAAPE, which represents all licensed pilots and aircraft engineers in the country, said safety remains the foremost priority in aviation, adding that all pilots are bound by strict regulatory, medical, and ethical standards set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements.
“These standards prohibit the use of any psychoactive substances and subject pilots to regular and random drug and alcohol testing as part of their medical certification and recurrent assessment processes,” the association said.
It reaffirmed confidence in the NCAA’s safety oversight functions and commended the authority’s consistent enforcement of global best practices that uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation system.
NAAPE said the senator’s remarks were not only misleading but could undermine public confidence and demoralise professionals who have maintained Nigeria’s record as one of Africa’s safest air transport systems.
Speaking on behalf of the association, its President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, said:
“It is unacceptable to make unsubstantiated claims against a community of professionals. The burden of proof lies with whoever makes such an allegation, and it must be supported by evidence or withdrawn with a public apology. Our members undergo some of the most rigorous medical, psychological, and professional screening anywhere in the world.”
He added that the suggestion that Nigerian pilots operate aircraft while intoxicated was “deeply unfair to the thousands of disciplined professionals who dedicate their lives to ensuring safe skies.”
NAAPE urged Senator Kalu to either substantiate his claims with verifiable evidence presented to the NCAA and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) or issue an unreserved public apology.
The association also called on the NCAA to issue a public clarification on existing drug and alcohol testing procedures for pilots to further reassure air travellers.
It invited Senator Kalu and members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Aviation to engage with aviation stakeholders to better understand the safety framework governing pilot training and operations in the country.
“The travelling public is assured that Nigerian pilots remain among the most competent, disciplined, and safety-conscious professionals globally,” the statement concluded.
