The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has commenced the rollout of the Electronic Master Plan for Inspections and Certification — known as EMPIC — with personnel licensing and medical certification as its first operational module, signalling a structural shift in how the authority manages its regulatory processes.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, formally announced the platform's go-live at a stakeholders' engagement held at the NCAA's Lagos Regional Office on 12 May 2026, describing the system as a defining milestone in the authority's programme to modernise aviation oversight in Nigeria.
"This represents the first phase of NCAA's broader digital transformation programme," Capt. Najomo told those gathered at the Lagos event. The platform, he said, would enhance efficiency through real-time services and reduce the administrative burden that has long characterised the licensing process for aviation professionals in the country.
What the System Does
The EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification module introduces a centralised database that allows the NCAA to process licence applications, manage medical certification renewals, and maintain inspection records through a single integrated platform — replacing a largely paper-based system that operators and regulatory staff have long identified as a source of delays and inconsistency.
Under the previous arrangement, pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and other licensed aviation professionals frequently faced extended waiting periods for licence renewals and medical clearances, at times disrupting operational planning for airlines and ground service providers. The NCAA acknowledged that reducing these turnaround times is among the primary objectives of the new system.
The platform also introduces real-time data access, enabling the authority's inspectors and licensing officers across its regional offices in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu to retrieve and update records without dependence on physical files or manual coordination between offices.
Phase One of a Larger Programme
Capt. Najomo was explicit that the EMPIC personnel licensing module is the beginning, not the end, of the NCAA's technology agenda. Subsequent phases are expected to extend the platform to other regulatory functions within the authority, though the NCAA has not yet published a detailed timeline for the remaining rollout stages.
The digital transformation initiative sits within a wider reform agenda at the NCAA under Capt. Najomo, who has used his tenure to push for stronger inter-agency cooperation, improved safety oversight infrastructure, and enhanced alignment with International Civil Aviation Organization standards ahead of Nigeria's ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission.
Industry Response
Aviation operators and airline associations have broadly welcomed the development, having raised concerns about licensing delays in submissions to the authority over several years. The Airline Operators of Nigeria and independent aviation professionals have both flagged the previous manual system as a contributor to workforce planning challenges, particularly during periods of rapid fleet expansion among domestic carriers.
The NCAA said it would continue to engage stakeholders as subsequent modules of the EMPIC system are developed and deployed, with further announcements expected before the end of 2026.
