The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has intensified efforts to modernise aviation regulatory oversight with the introduction of the EMPIC Personnel Licensing (PEL) and Aviation Medicine (MED) system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and compliance within the sector.
Speaking at an aviation industry stakeholder engagement held in Lagos on 12th May, 2026 , the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo said the initiative represents a major milestone in the agency’s ongoing digital transformation programme.
He explained that the engagement was organised to ensure industry-wide readiness and alignment ahead of the planned go-live phase of the EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification environment in July 2, 2026.
According to him, the initiative is designed to move the licensing and medical certification process from largely manual and semi-automated operations to a fully digital, data-driven and audit-compliant system capable of meeting global aviation standards.
He noted that the transformation became necessary as increasing air traffic, workforce expansion and stricter international regulatory requirements continue to place greater demands on aviation oversight systems.
The DGCA stated that the platform would improve integrity, transparency and global credibility in personnel licensing and medical certification, stressing that both functions remain critical safety controls within the aviation industry. He disclosed that the digital transformation programme would also cover organisation approvals and technical certification processes, including Air Operator Certification, Approved Training Organisations, Approved Maintenance Organisations, aircraft registration, airworthiness certification and surveillance audits.
Highlighting the expected benefits of the new system, the NCAA boss said licence holders would have access to online applications, real-time status tracking, reduced processing time and QR-code-based licence verification.
He added that Authorised Aviation Medical Examiners and medical centres would benefit from structured digital submission processes, while airlines and operators would gain access to real-time licence verification and improved compliance monitoring.
The DGCA further revealed that the platform integrates identity verification with the National Identity Management Commission framework for Nigerian applicants, while passport validation would apply to foreign licence holders.
He stressed the importance of stakeholder cooperation in ensuring the success of the initiative, urging applicants, operators, inspectors and medical examiners to comply fully with the new digital procedures.
The NCAA boss added that the initiative aligns with International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 1 requirements and global best practices in aviation medical certification, cybersecurity and digital governance.
“This initiative transforms the project from an internal NCAA programme into a collective industry advancement. Licensing and medical certification are not administrative functions, they are safety controls.
“Regulatory systems must evolve accordingly and operate at the speed and intelligence of the industry they oversee. This transformation is a deliberate shift toward a data-driven, intelligent and audit-compliant licensing ecosystem.
“No digital system can substitute regulatory discipline, however, this system strengthens regulatory control.Every action within the system leaves a regulatory footprint that protects the Authority, operators, licence holders and the flying public.
“This is not technology for its own sake , it is technology in service of safety and compliance.The success of this platform requires the collaboration and commitment of all stakeholders.
Also speaking, Director of Airworthiness Standards at the NCAA, Engr. Godwin Balang, described the deployment of the EMPIC software as a landmark achievement in the authority’s history, noting that it fulfils the agency’s long-standing mission of using technology to improve aviation safety, security and economic regulation.
Balang, who also serves as Chairman of the Flight Standards Group and focal person for the EMPIC implementation, said the software was specifically designed by aviation regulators for regulatory authorities and is already being used in more than 25 European countries as well as South Africa.
According to him, the EMPIC platform covers personnel licensing, organisational approvals and technical aircraft certification processes.
Balang said one of the major advantages of the system is the creation of a “single point of truth” where all regulatory information is stored and accessed from one central database, eliminating inconsistencies and improving transparency.
He noted that the current personnel licensing process remains cumbersome and paper-based, requiring pilots and other licence holders to physically submit medical reports and other documents before approvals can be granted.
According to him, the new digital system allows aviation medical examiners to upload medical reports directly through an online portal, enabling NCAA officials to access and review information instantly.
On cybersecurity concerns, Balang said the deployment had undergone the necessary federal government approval processes, including clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency, to ensure the protection of national data and long-term cybersecurity compliance.Balang added that the initiative aligns with the Civil Aviation Master Plan recently endorsed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during an ICAO event in Marrakech, Morocco.
“Personnel licensing is the priority because the people flying and controlling aircraft are central to aviation safety.One of the strongest features of EMPIC is that it creates a single point of truth.
“The current licensing process is cumbersome and paper-based, but the new system changes that completely.Typing information manually comes with errors, but a digital system retrieves information directly from the database.
“Every action within the system creates a digital trail that improves transparency and accountability.”, he said.
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