• The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority launched a centralised digital platform for personnel licensing and medical certification
• NCAA said the digital platform will reduce delays in aviation licensing through a centralised database
• The reform is part of the authority’s wider digital transformation programme for Nigeria’s aviation sector

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has unveiled a centralised digital platform for personnel licensing and medical certification as part of efforts to modernise aviation regulation and improve service delivery across the country.

The rollout was announced by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, during the PEL/MED Go-Live stakeholders engagement held at the NCAA Lagos Regional Office.

According to the aviation regulator, the new platform forms part of its wider digital transformation strategy aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, transparency, and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The authority confirmed that implementation of the Electronic Master Plan for Inspections and Certification (EMPIC) Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification (PEL/MED) system has officially commenced.

In a statement shared via the NCAA’s official X account, the agency said: “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced implementation of Electronic Master Plan for Inspections and Certification (EMPIC) system on personnel licensing and medical certification that will reduce delays in aviation licensing through a centralised database.”

Najomo described the initiative as a significant milestone in the authority’s push to modernise aviation regulation and improve Nigeria’s compliance and safety framework.

He explained that the digital system would unify personnel licensing and medical certification processes into a single centralised database, eliminating many of the delays associated with manual and fragmented procedures.

The NCAA added that the platform is expected to enhance transparency, accountability, and accessibility for aviation professionals nationwide.

Under the first phase of implementation, pilots, engineers, cabin crew members, and other licensed aviation personnel are expected to benefit from quicker access to regulatory services and faster processing of applications.

The EMPIC platform will also support real-time handling of licensing and certification requests, reduce paperwork, and minimise administrative bottlenecks that previously slowed approvals.

According to NCAA officials, the reform aligns Nigeria’s aviation regulatory system with global best practices while improving compliance monitoring and data management capabilities.

Stakeholders were informed that the deployment represents only the first stage of a broader modernisation agenda aimed at digitising several regulatory functions within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.

The centralised EMPIC system is regarded as a major institutional reform for the aviation sector, where administrative inefficiencies have long affected certification timelines and regulatory processes.

Industry observers believe the digitisation drive could significantly reduce turnaround times for aviation professionals and operators while improving Nigeria’s standing within the global aviation regulatory environment.

More efficient certification procedures are also expected to reduce operational disruptions for airlines and related service providers, while boosting investor confidence and long-term sector growth.

The latest reform builds on earlier automation efforts by the NCAA. In 2023, the authority introduced automated procedures for processing Air Operators’ Certificates after decades of paper-based administration.

For years, aviation stakeholders had advocated increased automation, citing global best practices and concerns over excessive paperwork, slow approvals, and administrative inefficiencies.

The new licensing and medical certification platform further reinforces the NCAA’s commitment to fully digitising aviation regulation in Nigeria.

Federal High Court unveils e-filing system in Lagos to speed up justice delivery

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal High Court of Nigeria had launched its electronic filing system in Lagos, marking a major step in its transition from manual, paper-driven court processes to a faster and more transparent digital system.

Speaking at the inauguration, Justice Tsoho said the court was making a deliberate break from the inefficiencies that have long slowed justice delivery.