All 15 pilots are type-rated on the Bell 412 helicopter, the primary rotary-wing aircraft operated by the Nigeria Police.
Sources within the Nigeria Police Airwing have raised the alarm over what they describe as a growing safety and operational crisis triggered by the advice of a senior police officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Auwal Mohammad, which they say has caused disunity among helicopter pilots and could compromise flight safety.
According to multiple aviation and police sources familiar with the matter, the controversy centres on a recent recommendation attributed to DCP Mohammad that only eight out of the Airwing’s 15 active helicopter pilots should be sponsored for overseas recurrent training.
All 15 pilots are type-rated on the Bell 412 helicopter, the primary rotary-wing aircraft operated by the Nigeria Police.
Sources said that prior to the assumption of duty by CP Martin Nwogoh as Commissioner of Police in charge of the Airwing, it was standard practice for all pilots to undergo annual recurrent training abroad, notably in Dubai and Sweden.
According to them, the training is essential for licence renewal, regulatory compliance, and maintaining flight safety standards.
However, the new recommendation to limit overseas training sponsorship to just over half of the pilots has sparked resentment and suspicion within the unit, particularly because, according to the sources, the criteria for selecting the eight pilots were not clearly explained.
“The recent advice by DCP Auwal Mohammad to select only eight pilots out of the 15 for sponsorship of flight tickets for overseas recurrent training has raised serious concerns,” one source said.
According to sources, the approach is creating “resentment, disunity, and a perception of favoritism among the pilots, particularly as the selection criteria were not transparently communicated”.
Beyond morale, sources warned that the decision could pose serious safety risks.
In aviation, pilots who go for extended periods without flying or recurrent training can suffer a decline in proficiency, a situation that may later require more intensive and costly refresher programmes to correct.
“More importantly, grounding qualified pilots by excluding them from recurrent training poses a significant safety risk,” another source explained.
“In aviation operations, prolonged periods without flying can lead to a decline in pilot proficiency, which may subsequently necessitate additional and more costly refresher training. This would ultimately result in increased financial implications for the Nigeria Police.”
The sources said pilots had expected professional, objective, and safety-focused guidance from DCP Mohammad, particularly given the high-risk nature of aviation operations.
Instead, they alleged that his advice has contributed to internal division and raised concerns about the future operational readiness of the Airwing.
They further noted that both the Commissioner of Police, Airwing, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Budget are generally regarded within the Force as well-intentioned officers.
However, sources believe their decisions in this instance may have been influenced by the advice provided by DCP Mohammad.
In light of the situation, the sources called for an urgent review of the decision-making process surrounding pilot training and sponsorship. They stressed that such decisions should be guided strictly by aviation safety standards, fairness, and operational requirements, rather than selective considerations.
According to them, ensuring equitable access to recurrent training is critical to maintaining unity, professionalism, and safety within the Nigeria Police Airwing, which plays a vital role in law enforcement operations across the country.
“The pilots expected professional, objective, and safety-oriented advice from DCP Auwal Mohammad to the CP Airwing and the relevant budgetary authorities,” one of the sources said.
“Regrettably, the outcome of this advice has contributed to division among aviation professionals and raised concerns regarding operational safety within the Nigeria Police Airwing.”
“In view of the foregoing, it is respectfully recommended that pilot training and sponsorship decisions be guided strictly by aviation safety standards, equity, and operational requirements, in order to sustain unity, professionalism, and safety within the Nigeria Police Airwing,” another source added.