NCAA launches platform to modernise aviation licensing, medical certification

…sets April 2026 deadline for full EMPIC PEL/MED adoption

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched the EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification (PEL/MED) platform as part of efforts to modernise aviation personnel licensing and aviation medical certification in the country, setting April 2, 2026 as the deadline for full adoption of the system.

Chris Najomo, Director-General, Civil Aviation, in a statement announced the Go-Live of the ICAO-approved platform on Monday, at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja during a stakeholder engagement session with key players in the Nigerian aviation ecosystem.

Najomo said the EMPIC PEL/MED system, when fully operational, would significantly reduce the time required for licensing renewals for pilots and other aviation professionals, enabling processes that previously took weeks to be completed within hours.

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According to him, the globally recognised, ICAO-aligned software represents a major step in the digital transformation of aviation regulation in Nigeria, strengthening safety oversight, data integrity and regulatory efficiency.

“It represents a fundamental modernisation of the way we manage licensing, medical certification, inspector oversight, data integrity and industry compliance. This aligns with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan, the State Safety Programme and our strategic objective of becoming a fully digital, data-driven regulator,” he said.

Najomo explained that full operationalisation of the EMPIC PEL/MED platform would take effect on April 2, 2026, noting that the phased implementation was designed to ensure system stability, stakeholder readiness, data accuracy and regulatory continuity.

He said that within the transition period, the authority would complete final data validation and migration, continue stakeholder onboarding and user support, finalise the onboarding of approved aviation medical examiners, apply parallel run and transition arrangements where necessary, and issue operational guidelines and notices.

“Upon operationalisation on April 2, 2026, EMPIC PEL/MED will become the official and mandatory platform for all applicable personnel licensing and aviation medical certification transactions, in line with NCAA regulations,” Najomo stated.

He commended airlines, aviation medical examiners, training organisations, aviation professionals and technical partners for their cooperation, urging all stakeholders to actively participate in post-Go-Live transition activities and prepare for full system adoption.

Najomo said the initiative would ensure a smooth, transparent and internationally aligned regulatory environment, positioning Nigeria’s aviation industry for greater efficiency, transparency and global competitiveness.

He noted that for many years, the aviation sector relied on manual and semi-digital processes for licensing and medical certification, but increasing industry complexity and the need for real-time regulatory oversight made the adoption of a robust digital platform inevitable.

In his presentation, Godwin Gyang Balang, Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, said Nigeria had joined the ranks of leading civil aviation regulators deploying the bespoke EMPIC technology.

Balang said the system would deliver improved data quality and integrity, with built-in quality assurance mechanisms to minimise errors. He added that four biometric data centres would be established in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano to ensure easier access for aviation operators and personnel.

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