The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have challenged Senator Orji Kalu to provide evidence of the alleged claims that pilots and other flight crew smoke Indian hemp and operate aircraft under the influence of drugs.
The Association asked the Senator 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.
The Association in a statement on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, Engr. Blessing Ahmadu described the claim by the Senator as baseless, false, and misleading.
Kalu made the allegations on Wednesday during a plenary session of the National Assembly.
Reacting to the allegations, NAAPE stated: “NAAPE received with deep concern the unsubstantiated claims made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a plenary session of the National Assembly, alleging that some pilots in Nigeria smoke Indian hemp and operate aircraft while under the influence of drugs.
The Association also extended an invitation to the Senator 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.
NAAPE while pledging its commitment to uphold the professional standards among its members, added that it will continue to collaborate with regulatory agencies, operators, and international partners to advance safety, discipline, and excellence across all aspects of Nigerian aviation.
It also assured the travelling public that Nigerian pilots remain among the most competent, disciplined, and safety-conscious professionals globally.
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