Orji Kalu Accuses Nigerian Pilots of Using Indian Hemp, Slams NCAA for Negligence on Drug Tests

Former Abia State Governor and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has raised a serious alarm over what he claims is prevalent drug use among some Nigerian pilots, strongly accusing the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other regulatory agencies of negligence.

Dependable NG reports that speaking during Wednesday’s Senate plenary, Senator Kalu alleged that certain pilots in the country operate aircraft while under the influence of Indian hemp, claiming they are not being adequately monitored. He insisted that the NCAA and related agencies have failed to carry out proper checks on pilots, including essential on-the-spot drug tests and health assessments.

Kalu urged aviation authorities to take immediate and urgent steps to ensure stricter monitoring of pilots, suggesting that some appear careless and unfit to fly.

“On many occasions I have stopped to fly because of inadequacy of pilots preparation, some of the pilots are not prepared. Some of them use Indian hemp. Yes, it’s true,” Kalu asserted.

He further claimed: “Some of them are smoking Indian hemp and some of them are not properly audited by the authorities. I am telling you what I know because the NCAA and other authorities are not looking after this pilot and checking them on drugs, on the spot assessment. They’re not doing it. It is dangerous.”

The Senator concluded by highlighting the risks of poor monitoring: “Nobody check their blood pressure. Nobody checked anything, nothing. Most of these pilots are so careless… If you go close to them, you will smell it. So NCAA must come back to their duty.”