The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has strongly condemned what it described as “baseless and malicious” claims made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a recent plenary session of the National Assembly, in which he alleged that some Nigerian pilots operate aircraft under the influence of drugs and smoke Indian hemp.
In a statement issued on Monday, NAAPE categorically refuted the allegation, describing it as a reckless attack on the professionalism, integrity, and reputation of Nigerian pilots and engineers. The association maintained that such unverified claims were capable of eroding public confidence in the nation’s aviation system, which it described as one of the safest in Africa.
“It is inaccurate and misleading to suggest that pilots routinely engage in drug use or report to duty under the influence of such substances,” the association said. “Aviation operations in Nigeria involve multiple layers of oversight, including pre-flight medical checks, recurrent simulator training, random toxicology screening, and continuous monitoring by both operators and regulators.”
The statement emphasised that all Nigerian pilots are bound by strict medical and ethical standards set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements.
These standards, NAAPE noted, prohibit the use of psychoactive substances and mandate regular and random drug and alcohol testing as part of pilots’ certification and recurrent assessments.
Reaffirming confidence in the oversight functions of the NCAA, NAAPE commended the regulatory body for maintaining global best practices that ensure the safety and integrity of the nation’s aviation system.
NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, speaking on behalf of the association, said the senator’s statement was unacceptable and demanded that he either substantiate his claims with verifiable evidence or issue a public apology.
“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 The burden of proof lies with whoever makes such an allegation, and it must be supported by evidence or withdrawn with a public apology,” Captain Gindeh stated.
“Our members undergo some of the most rigorous medical, psychological, and professional screening anywhere in the world. To broadly generalise and suggest that Nigerian pilots operate aircraft while under the influence of drugs is not only false but deeply unfair to the thousands of disciplined professionals who dedicate their lives to ensuring safe skies.”
Captain Gindeh added that the association takes great pride in Nigeria’s outstanding safety record, stressing that “everyone seems to speak as an aviation expert in this country except the professionals who are trained and certified to do the job.”
NAAPE urged Senator Kalu to formally present any alleged evidence to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) or withdraw his remarks immediately.
The association further appealed to the NCAA to issue a public clarification outlining the established drug and alcohol testing procedures for pilots, in order to reassure the flying public and dispel any misconceptions arising from the senator’s remarks.
The association also invited the National Assembly’s Committee on Aviation and Senator Kalu to engage with NAAPE and other aviation stakeholders to better understand the rigorous safety framework governing pilot training, certification, and operational conduct in Nigeria.
“Constructive engagement with facts and institutions remains the most effective path to improving safety oversight,” the statement read. “The travelling public is assured that Nigerian pilots remain among the most competent, disciplined, and safety-conscious professionals globally.”
The NAAPE is the professional body representing licensed aircraft pilots and aeronautical engineers in Nigeria.
Dedicated to promoting aviation safety, professional excellence, and the welfare of aviation professionals, NAAPE works closely with regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and safety in Nigerian aviation.
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