Story By Supo Atobatele,Lagos
Senator Orji Kalu must have stirred the hornets net by his unguarded claims that Nigerian pilots operate under the influence of Indian hemp,a prohibited drug for the flying crew.
Defending the Pilots earlier today,Mr.Adeola Fadairo,a veteran aviation journalist and Publisher, Arrival Magazine, described the statement by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu alleging that “some Nigerian pilots smoke Indian hemp and are unfit to fly” to be reckless, ill-considered, and gravely damaging”.
Fadairo,in a press statement,reminded the Senator of his failed attempt to float an airline stressing that for a sitting Senator, “to make such a sweeping allegation on the floor of the National Assembly, without a shred of verifiable data, empirical research, or regulatory validation, is both irresponsible and injurious to the image of the Nigerian aviation sector”.
His words:
“Nigeria’s pilots are among the most disciplined, rigorously trained, and internationally certified professionals. They operate under strict medical, psychological, and performance standards monitored by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in accordance with ICAO and Nig.CARs regulations.
“To describe such individuals as “drug users” is an unprovoked attack on their integrity and professionalism. These are men and women whose expertise and dedication keep millions of passengers safe every year.
“Senator Kalu’s careless comments carry consequences far beyond rhetoric.
They risk eroding passengers’ confidence in the safety of Nigerian carriers and undermining the credibility of our domestic operators before global partners, insurers, and financiers.
Aviation thrives on public trust and perception.
“Statements of this nature could artificially inflate insurance premiums, trigger international safety concerns, and jeopardize investments in a sector already navigating tight operational margins.
“The Senator’s assertion that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has failed in its oversight responsibilities is both false and unfair.
“The NCAA has consistently maintained Nigeria’s FAA Category 1 safety rating, conducts routine medical assessments, on-the-spot drug tests, and continuous monitoring of all licensed flight crew in the country.
“These are verifiable, audited processes that reflect regulatory diligence—not negligence,”Fadairo further remarked.
He therefore urged elected officials to always recognize the power and weight of their words, especially on the floor of the Senate.,saying that “aviation is a globally monitored industry—one of Nigeria’s few sectors that consistently meets international standards despite infrastructural challenges”.
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