October 17, (THEWILL) — The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has challenged Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to substantiate his allegation of substance abuse by pilots in Nigeria or withdraw the statement credited to him.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had, during a plenary session of the National Assembly, alleged that some pilots in Nigeria smoke Indian hemp and operate aircraft while under the influence of drugs.
Reacting on behalf of the Association, Captain Bunmi Gindeh, President of NAAPE, stated that it is unacceptable to make unsubstantiated claims against a community of professionals.
According to Gindeh, the burden of proof lies with the person making such an allegation, and it must be supported by evidence or withdrawn with a public apology.
Explaining further, the President said that “everyone appears to speak as an aviation expert in this country except the professionals who are trained and certified to do the job. For too long, individuals outside the industry have attempted to define its operations, and one would have expected a former airline operator to understand this better. Sadly, this is not the case.
“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. We take great pride in our safety record and remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
“NAAPE calls on Senator Kalu to immediately substantiate his claims with verifiable evidence presented to the appropriate statutory government agencies, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), or issue an unreserved public withdrawal and apology to the nation’s aviators.”
NAAPE also appealed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to issue a public clarification on existing drug and alcohol testing procedures for pilots, to further reassure the flying public and correct any misconceptions arising from this allegation.
The Association equally invited Senator Kalu and members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Aviation to engage with NAAPE and other stakeholders to understand the comprehensive safety framework that governs pilot training, certification, and operations in Nigeria.
“We remain committed to upholding the highest professional standards among our members and will continue to collaborate with regulatory agencies, operators, and international partners to advance safety, discipline, and excellence across all aspects of Nigerian aviation. The travelling public is assured that Nigerian pilots remain among the most competent, disciplined, and safety-conscious professionals globally”, NAAPE added.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
