By Obinna Uballa
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has strongly dismissed allegations by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during senate plenary on Wednesday that Nigerian pilots routinely operate aircraft under the influence of drugs, describing his comments as false, unfounded, and damaging to the country’s aviation reputation.
Reacting to Kalu’s remarks on the Senate floor, where he alleged that some pilots smoke Indian hemp before flying and accused aviation regulators of negligence, the NCAA said the lawmaker’s claims do not reflect the reality of Nigeria’s highly regulated aviation system.
In a statement issued by its Director-General, Captain Chris Najomo on Thursday, the NCAA said no pilot is permitted to fly any Nigerian-registered aircraft without a valid pilot’s licence and an up-to-date medical certificate issued after rigorous medical screening in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
“These medical certificates are granted only after comprehensive aero-medical evaluations conducted by NCAA-authorised examiners and reviewed by our in-house medical assessors,” Najomo said. “The examinations cover cardiovascular, neurological, psychological, respiratory, and visual fitness, and they include mandatory screening for psychoactive substances.”
The authority explained that pilots below 40 years must renew their medical certification every 12 months, while those 40 and above must do so every six months. It also cited Nig. CARs Part 8.5.1.5, which expressly prohibits flight crew from flying within eight hours of alcohol consumption or while under the influence of any drug or psychoactive substance.
According to Najomo, NCAA inspectors routinely carry out random and unannounced drug and alcohol tests on flight crew whenever there is reasonable suspicion, adding that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance policy for safety violations.
“It is therefore inaccurate and misleading to suggest that pilots operate under the influence or that the NCAA fails in its oversight role. Nigeria’s aviation safety standards are in line with global best practices and are regularly audited by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” he stated.
The Director-General cited the August 2025 suspension of a ValueJet pilot for procedural breaches as proof of the agency’s strict enforcement culture, stressing that the NCAA does not compromise on safety.
Addressing Kalu’s further claim that aircraft can land automatically without pilot intervention, the NCAA clarified that while modern planes are equipped with autopilot and autoland systems, these do not replace human control.
“Take-offs are always manual operations conducted by pilots. Although some aircraft have autoland capability, it is only used under specific weather and airport conditions, and always under pilot supervision. Nigeria currently has no airport certified for Category III operations, required for fully automatic landings,” Najomo explained.
The NCAA maintained that Nigeria’s aviation oversight system continues to meet ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) standards, placing the country among nations with effective aviation safety supervision.
It urged public figures to verify information before making statements capable of undermining confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
