NAAPE Denounces Senator Kalu’s “Irresponsible” Drug Allegations Against Nigerian Pilots, Demands Evidence or Retraction
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has strongly condemned what it described as a “reckless and unfounded” statement made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a plenary session of the National Assembly, in which he alleged that some Nigerian pilots smoke Indian hemp and operate aircraft while under the influence of drugs.
In a detailed statement issued in Abuja, NAAPE expressed “deep concern and disappointment” over the senator’s comments, describing them as “a malicious attack on the integrity, professionalism, and reputation of Nigerian aviation personnel.”
The association said such a sweeping allegation not only lacked factual basis but also posed a dangerous threat to public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry, which continues to uphold international safety standards.
“NAAPE categorically and emphatically refutes the broad allegation that Nigerian pilots routinely fly under the influence of narcotics,” the statement read. “These baseless claims constitute a grave misrepresentation of the high safety standards and professional ethics that define Nigerian aviation operations.”
The association, which represents all licensed pilots and aircraft engineers in Nigeria, stressed that safety remains the core value of aviation practice and that pilots are held to some of the strictest medical, regulatory, and ethical standards in the world.
According to NAAPE, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements, subjects all pilots to rigorous medical screening, including random and routine drug and alcohol testing, to ensure they are fit to fly.
The association noted that these safety procedures form part of a robust oversight system that includes pre-flight checks, recurrent simulator training, and continuous professional monitoring.
“It is inaccurate, misleading, and dangerous to imply that pilots report to work under the influence of drugs,” NAAPE stated. “Aviation in Nigeria operates under multiple layers of safety and regulatory control, leaving no room for such reckless behaviour.”
Speaking on behalf of the association, NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, decried the senator’s comments as irresponsible and disrespectful to an entire community of professionals who have dedicated their lives to maintaining safe skies.
“It is unacceptable to make unsubstantiated claims against a body of professionals,” Captain Gindeh said. “The burden of proof lies with whoever makes such an allegation, and it must be supported by credible evidence or withdrawn publicly with an apology. Our members undergo some of the most rigorous psychological, medical, and technical training anywhere in the world. To suggest that they operate aircraft under the influence of drugs is not only false but deeply unjust.”
Captain Gindeh further remarked that it was unfortunate that a public figure of Senator Kalu’s standing, and a former airline operator, would make such statements without verification. “One would have expected him to be better informed about the standards and regulatory structures that underpin Nigerian aviation,” he said.
NAAPE also reaffirmed its confidence in the NCAA’s safety oversight capacity and the agency’s unwavering enforcement of international best practices that have kept Nigeria’s aviation industry among the safest in Africa.
The association called on the NCAA to issue a public statement outlining its drug and alcohol testing framework to further reassure air travellers and dispel any lingering doubts created by the senator’s claims.
Furthermore, NAAPE urged Senator Kalu to present any purported evidence to the appropriate authorities – specifically the NCAA and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) – or publicly retract his comments and tender an apology to Nigerian aviators.
“Constructive engagement based on facts and institutional processes remains the most effective means of addressing aviation safety issues,” the association added. “The Nigerian flying public can rest assured that their pilots are among the most disciplined, competent, and safety-conscious professionals in the world.”
The statement concluded by inviting Senator Kalu and the National Assembly’s Committee on Aviation to engage directly with NAAPE and other key stakeholders to gain a factual understanding of the safety mechanisms and professional requirements that govern Nigeria’s aviation operations.
Committed to promoting aviation safety, professional excellence, and the welfare of aviation professionals, NAAPE works in close collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), operators, and international partners to ensure that Nigerian aviation meets and exceeds global standards.
