The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has launched the ICAO-approved EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification (PEL/MED) platform, formally setting April 2, 2026, as the deadline for its full and mandatory adoption across Nigeria’s aviation sector. The Go-Live announcement was made in Abuja during a stakeholder engagement session at the NCAA headquarters, marking a major milestone in the Authority’s digital transformation agenda.
Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, explained that while the platform is now live, the industry is entering a controlled transition phase that will run until April 2026. He said the phased approach is deliberate, allowing time for system stability, stakeholder readiness, accurate data migration and regulatory continuity in a safety-critical environment. Upon full 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 noted that the system will dramatically reduce processing times for pilots and other aviation professionals, with licence renewals and certifications that previously took weeks expected to be completed within hours or minutes. He described the platform as a fundamental modernisation of how the NCAA manages licensing, medical certification, inspector oversight, data integrity and industry compliance, aligning Nigeria with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan, the State Safety Programme and the Authority’s goal of becoming a fully digital, data-driven regulator.
During the transition period, the NCAA will complete final data validation and migration, intensify stakeholder onboarding and user support, finalise the participation of approved aviation medical examiners, operate parallel systems where necessary and issue operational guidelines and notices. Najomo stressed that Go-Live does not mean immediate enforcement, but rather the availability of the platform for familiarisation and final transition activities before full compliance is required.
He commended airlines, aviation professionals, training organisations, medical examiners and technical partners for their cooperation so far, urging all stakeholders to actively participate in the transition process to ensure a smooth shift to the new system. According to him, the initiative will deliver a more transparent, efficient and internationally aligned regulatory environment, enhancing Nigeria’s global aviation competitiveness.
In his presentation, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Engr. Godwin Gyang Balang, said Nigeria has joined the ranks of leading civil aviation authorities deploying the EMPIC technology. He explained that the system improves data quality and integrity through built-in quality assurance mechanisms, audit trails and real-time oversight tools, strengthening regulatory decision-making and preparedness for ICAO audits. Balang added that biometric data centres will be established in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano to support identity verification and improve access for aviation personnel nationwide.
For decades, Nigeria’s aviation licensing and medical certification relied on manual and semi-digital processes that struggled to keep pace with industry growth and the need for real-time oversight. With EMPIC PEL/MED now live and April 2, 2026 fixed for full enforcement, the NCAA says the era of prolonged licensing delays is coming to an end, signalling a decisive shift towards digital aviation governance in Nigeria.
