The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, says a new era of faster, safer and more transparent aviation regulation is unfolding in the country with the deployment of the EMPIC digital licensing and medical certification platform.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, described the initiative as a major breakthrough that will transform the way pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals obtain and renew licences in Nigeria.
According to him, the new digital system replaces slow and cumbersome paper-based processes with an automated platform that allows real-time verification, secure biometric-backed credentials and QR code authentication, bringing Nigeria’s aviation oversight in line with global standards.
Also speaking, Director of Airworthiness Standards and Chairman of the Flight Standards Group, Mr. Godwin Balang, said the platform marks the realization of a vision pursued by the authority for more than two decades.
He noted that the EMPIC system is already being used by aviation regulators in Europe and parts of Africa and is designed specifically to strengthen aviation safety oversight.
The NCAA says the platform will drastically reduce delays in licence processing and medical certification by allowing aeromedical examiners, inspectors and regulators to process applications instantly through a centralized database.
Airlines and operators are also expected to benefit from quicker licence validation, improved compliance monitoring and reduced operational risks.
The authority adds that every transaction on the platform will be digitally tracked and time-stamped, boosting accountability, improving data integrity and helping regulators quickly identify violations across the aviation sector.
Beyond efficiency, the NCAA believes the initiative will strengthen global confidence in Nigerian aviation credentials, enhance passenger safety and support future growth in air travel by creating a more reliable and technology-driven regulatory environment.
The authority says the digital transformation programme will eventually expand to other critical areas including airline certification, maintenance organizations, aerodrome regulation and air navigation services.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen