Skip to main content

NCAA suspends medical certificates of 5 cabin crew members over drug offences

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in furtherance of its safety oversight, has suspended the medical certificates of five cabin crew members over alleged drug related offences.

The NCAA announced this in a statement by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, on Sunday in Lagos.

Adurogboye said the crew members (names withheld) tested positive to marijuana (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol – THC) during a Multi- Drug Screening Test (MDST).

He said the test was conducted on participants of the Cabin Crew Training Basic Course – 30 (CCTB – 30 ) at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Kaduna State on June 2.

“Upon receipt of the test result from NCAT Zaria where they went for training before they got involved, NCAA issued a letter of investigation (LOI) to the involved crew members and they responded.

“The authority accordingly considered their responses which were in writing after it had been duly established that they all tested positive to Tetra Hydro Cannabinol (THC – Marijuana).

“This is a substance deemed under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. NCARs) 2015 to be a psychoactive substance which made the defaulters disoriented and thereby violated NCARs 2015,” Adurogboye said.

According to him, consequent upon the findings, the defaulted crew members no longer meet the requirements for the issuance of a Cabin Crew licence.

He said in the light of the above and in accordance with the provision of Nig. NCARs 2015, the authority resolved to suspend their medical certificates for a period of 180 days from the date of receipt of NCAA letter to them.

Adurogboye said it also put on hold the processing of their initial cabin crew licence and requested them to repeat the examination.

He added that they would not be issued the cabin crew licence even if they passed the examination until they were successfully rehabilitated and re-issued the medical certificate.

“NCAA has, therefore, mandated the suspended Cabin Crew members to undergo rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse under the strict supervision of a consultant psychiatrist at designated medical centres forthwith.

“At the end of the rehabilitation, a report is expected to be forwarded in strict confidence by the medical centre to the authority for consideration of re-issuance of their medical certificate in accordance with the Nig. NCARs 2015.

“The authority expects strict compliance by the suspended crew members without which their medical certificates would not be issued.

“This is assuring the travelling public that NCAA is very detailed in its oversight activities over the industry in the interest of safer skies in Nigeria and violations are viewed seriously,” Adurogboye said.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...