The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended a domestic Pilot after a drug screening test conducted on the technical personnel in the country’s aviation industry proved the Pilot tested positive to marijuana.
Though NCAA has refused to name the offending pilots, but the agency through its publicity manager, Sam Adurogboye disclosed that the pilot has been suspended.
Adurogboye in a statement said 85 staff, including pilots, cabin crew, air and traffic controllers (ATCs), were randomly selected for drug screening in line with the regulatory agency’s policy on substance abuse. He explained that the crew member tested positive for a psychoactive substance, tetrahydrocannabinol (marijuana), and was immediately suspended by the authority from carrying out further flight operations.
According to Adurogboye, further were later carried out to ascertain the quantity of the substance in the urine sample of the crew member, stressing that the investigation revealed that the Pilot clearly violated the provisions of Part 2.11.1.7. (a) and Part 8.5.1.5(a) (3) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015).
The statement hinted that the aircrew would undergo a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse during the suspension period under the care of a consultant psychiatrist.
He declared that at the end of rehabilitation, the psychiatrist’s report would be reviewed by the authority’s consultant psychiatrist adviser, which is to enable NCAA consider possible restoration of the suspended Medical Certificate and License. Mr. Adurogboye added that the random drug and alcohol tests for licensed aviation personnel would be carried out periodically to prevent crew members and ATCs from dangerously performing their duties under the influence of psychoactive substances.
