“Some Pilots Smoke Indian Hemp Before Flying” — Senator Orji Kalu Alleges

A Nigerian lawmaker, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has alleged that some pilots in the country smoke Indian hemp before operating flights, raising serious concerns about aviation safety and regulatory oversight.

Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary session of the Senate, Kalu — who represents Abia North Senatorial District and is a former owner of the now-defunct SLOK Airlines — claimed that a number of pilots were not properly monitored by aviation authorities and sometimes fly while under the influence of drugs. He made the remarks while contributing to a motion on strengthening aviation safety, sponsored by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai of Oyo North.

According to Kalu, several pilots show signs of poor preparation before flights, while agencies such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) allegedly fail to conduct proper checks. He said some pilots use Indian hemp regularly and that their health and mental conditions are often ignored.

“I feel that the authorities guiding these pilots are very lousy. Some of them are not properly audited. Some of them smoke Indian hemp, and nobody checks their blood pressure or medical condition before they board the aircraft,” he said. “I have seen this personally. Some of them take this Indian hemp like cigarettes. If you go close to them, you will smell it.”

The senator argued that most modern aircraft, such as Boeing 737-500 models, rely heavily on automated systems, meaning that incidents like runway overruns often result from pilot negligence or impairment. He urged aviation regulators to resume regular testing and ensure strict oversight to prevent potential tragedies.

Kalu also called on the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to improve the condition of airport runways across the country, describing some of them as unsafe. He recommended that the ministry carry out quarterly inspections of all runways to guarantee safety.

Supporting the motion, Senator Danjuma Goje of Gombe Central described the state of the aviation industry as “frightening,” warning that disclosing too many details could discourage Nigerians from flying. He emphasized the need for stronger oversight from the Senate Committee on Aviation to ensure accountability and compliance with safety standards.

The motion, which followed a recent report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau on an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 runway overrun in Port Harcourt, was unanimously adopted by the Senate. An additional resolution, proposed by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi North, directed the aviation committee to investigate Kalu’s allegations and other safety concerns in the sector.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, described the claims as serious and urged the committee to submit a detailed report within four weeks.