- The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched the EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification (PEL/MED) system, designed to shorten the time required for pilots and other aviation professionals to obtain and renew licences and medical certificates.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, announced the Go-Live of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) approved system on Monday in Abuja during a stakeholder engagement with the Nigerian aviation ecosystem.
Capt. Najomo said that when fully operational, the system would enable licence renewals to be processed within hours, replacing the largely manual and semi-digital procedures that had slowed down approvals in the past.
Describing the initiative as a major step in regulatory modernisation, he said the EMPIC PEL/MED platform is a globally recognised, ICAO-aligned software used by leading civil aviation authorities worldwide.
According to him, its deployment reflects the NCAA’s commitment to digital transformation, improved safety oversight and efficient service delivery.
“This represents a fundamental modernisation of the way we manage licensing, medical certification, inspector oversight, data integrity and industry compliance,” Najomo said, adding that the system aligns with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan and Nigeria’s State Safety Programme.
He disclosed that full operationalisation of the platform would take effect on April 2, 2026, following a phased transition period to ensure system stability, stakeholder preparedness, data integrity and regulatory continuity.
During the transition phase, the NCAA will complete final data validation and migration, intensify 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.
Najomo said that from April 2, 2026, EMPIC PEL/MED would become the official and mandatory platform for all personnel licensing and aviation medical certification transactions in line with NCAA regulations.
He commended airlines, aviation medical examiners, training organisations, aviation professionals and technical partners for their cooperation, urging stakeholders to actively participate in the post-Go-Live transition activities to ensure a smooth rollout.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Engr. Godwin Balang, said Nigeria had joined the league of elite civil aviation regulators deploying the bespoke EMPIC technology.
Balang noted that the system would provide a more robust and reliable data environment, with strong quality assurance measures to safeguard data integrity and reduce errors.
He added that four biometric data centres would be established in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano to improve accessibility for aviation personnel across the country.
The launch of the EMPIC PEL/MED system marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework, positioning the sector for greater efficiency, transparency and global competitiveness.
