Leadership, Responsibility, Recklessness of Words — Setting the Record Straight on Senator Kalu’s Aviation Allegations
By Tunde Moshood
In every civilized democracy, criticism is an essential ingredient of progress but when it becomes reckless, baseless, and politically motivated, it threatens not just the integrity of institutions but also public confidence in them.
This is why the recent statement by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, alleging that “pilots and cabin crew in Nigeria are involved in substance abuse” cannot go unaddressed. The Senator, in what appeared to be a desperate bid for media attention or perhaps an attempt to score cheap political points, made a sweeping, unsubstantiated remark on the floor of the Senate, claiming that aviation authorities are not conducting proper checks.
Such comments are not only reckless , they are dangerous. They have the potential to sow panic among the traveling public and undermine the painstaking progress being recorded in Nigeria’s aviation industry under the current leadership.
It is one thing to call for higher standards; it is another to make wild claims without a shred of evidence. Aviation is one of the most regulated sectors globally, governed by strict compliance protocols and international safety benchmarks. Pilots, cabin crew, and all licensed aviation professionals in Nigeria are routinely subjected to rigorous medical, psychological, and substance tests, as mandated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
To insinuate otherwise, without factual basis, is to insult the thousands of disciplined Nigerian aviators who dedicate their lives daily to ensuring that passengers arrive safely at their destinations.
Criticism, when constructive, drives improvement. But destructive insinuations , particularly from an elder statesman and former governor only serve to demoralize, destabilize, and distort public trust. An Elder Statesman should build, not break.
Senator Kalu, a man of considerable political experience, ought to know better. With the calibre of his personality , a former governor, businessman, and current lawmaker , one would expect that his contributions to national discourse would be measured, informed, and nation-building in tone.
Ironically, this is not the first time the Senator has thrown verbal stones at the aviation sector. But this time, his words sting more deeply because they attempt to paint an entire industry , one that employs tens of thousands of Nigerians and drives economic growth in a dark and untrue light.
It begs the question: is this criticism borne out of genuine concern or the lingering resentment of a failed aviation enterprise?
A Look Back: The Rise and Fall of Slok Air
For those who may not know, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu once had an airline , Slok Air, established in 1996. Interestingly, though founded with Nigerian resources, the airline’s operational hub was located in Banjul International Airport, The Gambia, not Nigeria.
Slok Air began operations with six Boeing 737-200 aircraft and served destinations across West Africa — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone , conspicuously excluding Nigeria. By late 2008, however, the airline had grounded operations amid financial difficulties, lawsuits, and management crises.
It is therefore not misplaced to suggest that Senator Kalu’s bitterness toward Nigeria’s growing aviation system may be rooted in nostalgia for an era when his own aviation ambition could not take flight.
Under the current leadership of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s aviation industry has witnessed a new wave of professionalism, discipline, and reform. The Minister’s no-nonsense approach and legal precision have restored order and credibility to an industry once plagued by inefficiency and complacency.
Among his notable achievements are:
Implementation of the IDERA Framework: Strengthening Nigeria’s compliance with international aircraft leasing and financing standards, thereby improving investor confidence and making it easier for local operators to acquire and retain aircraft.
Negotiation of new Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs): Ensuring reciprocal benefits for Nigerian airlines and expanding connectivity between Nigeria and key global markets.
Consumer Protection Initiatives: Launching a simplified Consumer Protection Portal under the NCAA, enhancing transparency, and ensuring passengers’ rights are respected.
Infrastructure Modernization: Overseeing upgrades at major airports, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, without compromising operational safety or passenger experience.
Reinforcing Regulatory Oversight: Ensuring that all aviation agencies including NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NSIB, NiMET and others , align under a unified performance-driven vision.
These are not the hallmarks of a system plagued by negligence or substance abuse, but rather of one being rebuilt on integrity and international best practice.
Conclusion: Leadership Requires Restraint
The aviation sector is one of the most sensitive in any country, where a single careless statement can ripple through public confidence and international perception. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s recent comments are not only unfounded but unbecoming of a statesman who should be guiding, not goading, a critical national industry.
Nigeria’s aviation has come too far, under too much scrutiny, and with too much effort from dedicated professionals, to be discredited by political sensationalism. If anything, leaders of influence like Senator Kalu should lend their voices to strengthening, not slandering, the system.
As the Honourable Minister, Festus Keyamo, SAN, continues to drive reforms, restore order, and position Nigeria as a regional aviation hub, what the industry needs is encouragement, not careless words that could ground confidence.
Because when leadership speaks, the nation listens. And when leaders mis-speak, the nation trembles.
Tunde Moshood is the Special Adviser On Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
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