Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that no pilot operates in the country under the influence of any substance.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Thursday, the NCAA dismissed comments made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, regarding alleged lapses in pilot training, substance use among flight crew, and weaknesses in the authority’s oversight functions.
Kalu had made the claims during plenary on October 15, while supporting a motion that raised safety concerns following the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) report on the Air Peace runway incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport. He alleged that some pilots in the country’s aviation sector smoke Indian hemp.
Responding, the NCAA said it maintains a rigorous and internationally recognised system for certifying and monitoring the medical and professional fitness of all pilots operating in Nigeria.
The statement reads, “While the Authority holds the Distinguished Senator and the National Assembly in the highest esteem, it is necessary to provide factual clarifications in the public interest.”
“No pilot is permitted to operate a Nigerian-registered aircraft without holding both a valid pilot licence and a current medical certificate, as required by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 8.4.1.4. Holders of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPL) and Airline Transport Pilot Licences (ATPL) are, by the provisions of Nig. CARs 2.3.5.1 and 2.3.7.1, required to possess a Class 1 Medical Certificate before they are allowed to operate.”
According to the NCAA, medical certificates are issued only after comprehensive aeromedical evaluations by NCAA-authorised aviation medical examiners (AAMEs) and subsequent approval by the authority’s in-house aero-medical assessors.
It added that the examinations cover cardiovascular, neurological, psychological, metabolic, respiratory, and visual assessments to ensure that pilots are fit to operate safely.
The authority said, “It also screens for the use of psychoactive substances, mental or behavioral disorders, abnormal blood pressure, heart or lung diseases, neurological disorders, and other physiological conditions that could affect safe performance.”
NCAA noted that medical certificates remain valid for twelve months for pilots below 40 years and six months for those aged 40 and above. Pilots must undergo new tests before renewal once validity expires.
It also emphasised that flight crew are prohibited from operating within eight hours of consuming alcohol or while under the influence of any substance that could impair performance.
It said, “NCAA conducts random and unannounced testing for crew members, with results admissible as legal evidence”, adding that the authority performs daily ramp inspections at airports nationwide to verify licences, medical certificates, and overall crew fitness.
NCAA further noted that irregularity is immediately addressed, and appropriate enforcement action is taken in line with the Authority’s zero-tolerance policy for safety violations.
It cited a recent instance in August 2025 when the licence of a ValueJet pilot was suspended for initiating departure without proper clearance — an example, it said, of its commitment to safety and discipline.
The authority added, “It is therefore inaccurate to suggest that pilots operate under the influence of substances or without adequate checks.”
It clarified that Nigeria’s aviation oversight aligns with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and continues to meet ICAO’s audit benchmarks under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Responding to Kalu’s claim that modern aircraft take off and land automatically, the NCAA explained that while some planes feature autopilot and autoland systems, these do not replace pilot responsibilities.
NCAA clarified, “Nigeria does not currently have any airport certified for Category III (CAT III) operations, which are required for fully automatic landings in low-visibility conditions. Therefore, all landings within Nigerian airspace are manually executed by pilots.”
