Abia North Senator, Orji Kalu, on Wednesday, alleged that some pilots flying plane in Nigeria smoke Indian hemp and get ‘excessive’ earlier than working flights.
He stated this was one of many main causes many planes run off the runway whereas touchdown.
Mr Kalu, who as soon as owned the now-defunct SLOK Airways, made the declare throughout plenary as senators debated a movement on the necessity to strengthen aviation security in Nigeria.
The movement was sponsored by the Oyo North senator, Buhari Abdulfatai.
Mr Kalu, a former Abia State governor, criticised aviation regulatory businesses for allegedly failing to correctly monitor pilots, claiming that poor oversight had led to unsafe practices.
“I really feel that the authorities guiding these pilots, a few of them are very awful. I’ve on many events stopped to fly due to the inadequacy of the pilots’ preparation. A few of the pilots are usually not ready. A few of them use Indian hemp. Sure, it’s true. A few of them smoke Indian hemp, and a few of them are usually not correctly audited by the authorities.
“I’m telling you what I do know, as a result of the NCAA and the NAMA and different authorities are usually not taking care of these pilots and checking them for medicine, on the game evaluation. They’re not doing it as a result of it’s harmful, and also you see them strolling into the airplane, no person checks their blood stress, no person checks something, nothing, nothing,” he stated.
Mr Kalu stated fashionable plane, akin to Boeing 737-500, are largely automated and may hardly ever encounter touchdown issues. He attributed incidents to pilot negligence and drug use.
“Word that plane, most of them, 737-500, have an computerized touchdown gear system. It doesn’t want a pilot to land the airplane. What is required to land the airplane is a pc and, autopilot. As a result of a few of them are excessive, they aren’t going to do that factor. As a result of any plane that’s of a brand new technology doesn’t want a pilot. They don’t want a pilot to fly. Touchdown and take-off are purely computerized.
“So most of those pilots are so careless. I’ve witnessed, I’ve seen on my own, I’ve come to fly, I instructed my pilots, I stated, No, no, no, I don’t assume you’re regular at present. You must return house. So all these businesses should come again house to take care of these pilots, and what do you name them, and the cabin workers, as a result of a few of them take this Indian hemp like cigarettes. They gained’t inform you. In case you go near them, you’ll scent it. ”
The senator additionally urged the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to make sure that airport runways are frequently maintained, noting that some are in poor situation.
“So, the NCAA should come again to its responsibility. As a result of, once more, the Minister of Aviation have to be compelled to do a quarterly (evaluation) of the runway. A few of the runways are usually not in fine condition. Nigeria should protect to service the runways, he added.
Scary scenario
In his contribution, Gombe Central Senator, Danjuma Goje, described the state of Nigeria’s aviation sector as “horrifying,” warning that revealing the total extent of the issues may discourage air travellers.
“Just like the earlier speaker, I’m not going into particulars of the issues of the allies as a result of I believe it’s additionally not good to debate these sorts of issues intimately, as a result of a few of these issues will discourage individuals. It’s very horrifying and it’ll discourage individuals from flying the Nigerian plane,” he stated.
Mr Goje, additionally a former governor of Gombe State, urged the Senate Committee on Aviation to accentuate oversight of regulatory businesses such because the NCAA and NAMA to make sure compliance and accountability..
“So I believe the essential factor is for the committee to noticeably do an oversight as requested if the NCAA, the NAMA, are usually not doing that. Their job of the committee is to go and discover out and report again, after which we take essential motion. We don’t play with aviation as a result of it’s a matter of life and dying. Any small mistake will result in lack of lives,” he stated.
The movement
Whereas presenting his movement earlier, Mr Abdulfatai referenced a report by the Nigerian Security Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on the runway overrun involving an Air Peace Boeing 737-500 at Port Harcourt Worldwide Airport on 22 June.
He stated the report revealed important lapses in security requirements, infrastructure administration, and operational compliance throughout the sector.
The senator expressed concern that runway-related incidents, close to misses, and different issues of safety had been turning into more and more widespread and will erode public confidence if not urgently addressed.
He due to this fact urged the Senate to direct its Committee on Aviation to have interaction related stakeholders, together with the NSIB, NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, and airline operators, to make sure the total implementation of security suggestions and report again inside six weeks.
Further prayer
Kebbi North Senator, Yahaya Abdullahi, nonetheless, proposed a further prayer to the movement mandating the committee to conduct an intensive investigation into Mr Kalu’s allegations and different associated points within the aviation business.
The prayer obtained overwhelming help and was authorised by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session.
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“We should always not deal with it with levity. If we do this, then we’ll be injuring our economic system, injuring the lives of our individuals. Very, crucial. And I commend the Senate for the prayer being adopted {that a} thorough investigation needs to be made to unravel what is occurring inside that sector.
“I do know it’s (committee) headed by somebody who may be very, very diligent and dependable, a consummate legislator with expertise who studied from the Home of Reps to the Senate. I do know he’s going to do job with the members of the committee. Please do a beautiful job and submit your report inside 4 weeks,” Mr Jibrin stated.
