“False Alarm” — NCAA Refutes Senator Kalu’s Claims of Drug Use Among Nigerian Pilots

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dismissed claims by Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, that Nigerian pilots regularly abuse drugs while on duty.

During plenary in the Senate, Kalu alleged that some pilots consume Indian hemp before flying and evade detection due to inadequate oversight by the NCAA. He claimed the situation endangers passengers, arguing that authorities fail to conduct on-the-spot assessments of pilots’ fitness.

“I have refused to fly on many occasions because of the inadequacy of pilots’ preparation. Some use Indian hemp. Some pilots are not properly audited by the authorities,” Kalu stated. “You see pilots walking into planes and nobody checks their blood pressure. The NCAA must rise to its duty.”

The NCAA, through its Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, countered the allegations, stressing that claims of substance abuse and regulatory lapses are unfounded and misleading. He highlighted that all Nigerian pilots must hold both a valid pilot licence and a current medical certificate, as required by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).

Najomo explained that medical certification involves comprehensive assessments of pilots’ cardiovascular, neurological, psychological, metabolic, respiratory, and visual health, including screening for psychoactive substances and mental or behavioural disorders. Certificates are valid for 12 months for pilots under 40 and six months for those aged 40 and above, after which recertification is mandatory.

He added that Nig. CARs explicitly prohibits crew members from operating an aircraft within eight hours of consuming alcohol or while under the influence of psychoactive substances. Random and on-the-spot testing is conducted whenever there is reasonable suspicion of intoxication.

Beyond medical evaluations, NCAA inspectors carry out daily ramp inspections at airports nationwide, verifying pilot licences, medical certificates, and overall fitness for duty. Any irregularities are addressed immediately, with enforcement actions in line with the authority’s zero-tolerance safety policy.

Najomo cited a recent example in August 2025, when the NCAA suspended a ValueJet pilot’s licence for initiating departure without proper clearance, demonstrating the authority’s commitment to strict safety protocols.

On Kalu’s suggestion that modern aircraft can take off and land automatically, Najomo clarified that while many planes are equipped with autopilot and autoland systems, take-offs are fully manual, and autoland functions operate only under specific conditions with pilot supervision. Nigeria currently has no airports certified for fully automatic landings (CAT III), meaning all landings in Nigerian airspace are piloted manually.

He further emphasized that Nigeria’s aviation oversight consistently meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit requirements, ensuring the country maintains effective safety supervision standards.

The NCAA concluded that claims of pilots operating under the influence of drugs or without adequate checks are entirely inaccurate, asserting that its processes align with global best practices for aviation safety.

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