Former Abia State Governor and Senate Majority Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has raised alarm over the alleged use of Indian hemp by some Nigerian pilots.
In a viral video from a Senate plenary, Kalu accused aviation authorities of failing to properly monitor pilots’ preparedness and fitness before flights.
He claimed that some pilots are unprofessional, untested for drugs, and not subjected to proper health checks such as blood pressure assessments.
He also urged the Minister of Aviation to enforce regular maintenance and ensure that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other relevant agencies carry out strict supervision of pilots to guarantee air safety.
He said, “Some of them (pilots) are very lousy. I’ve, on many occasions, stopped flying because of the inadequacy of pilots’ preparations. Some of the pilots are not prepared. Some of them use Indian hemp. Yes, it is true, some of them smoke Indian hemp. And some of them are not properly audited by the authorities.
“The NCAA, NEMA and other authorities are not looking after these pilots or checking them for drugs through on-the-spot assessments. They are not doing it, and it is dangerous. You see them walking to the airplane; nobody checks their blood pressure or blood levels.
He added, “NCAA must come back to their duty. Again, the Minister of Aviation must be forced to do maintenance.”
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