NCAA Begins Digital Licensing For Pilots, Aviation Personnel July 2
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has announced plans to commence a fully digital licensing and certification process for pilots, engineers, medical personnel and other aviation professionals from July 2, 2026.
The initiative, unveiled during the Modern Personnel Licensing and Certification Digital Transformation stakeholder engagement at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, is designed to replace the manual and paper-based system that has long caused delays in the processing of aviation licences and certifications.
Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, described the move as a major milestone in the agency’s reform agenda, noting that the aviation industry could no longer depend on outdated regulatory processes in a rapidly evolving global environment.
According to him, the digital platform will enable online applications for the issuance, renewal and conversion of licences, while applicants will also be able to monitor the progress of their applications in real time.
Najomo stated that the new system would incorporate biometric-backed credentials and QR-code verification technology to improve security, transparency and data integrity in line with international aviation standards.
He assured stakeholders that the era of prolonged waiting periods for licences would soon end, adding that the authority was determined to simplify and accelerate regulatory procedures across the sector.
The NCAA boss further disclosed that the digital licensing initiative forms the first phase of a broader transformation programme that would later cover Air Operator Certificate processing, Approved Training Organisations, Approved Maintenance Organisations, aerodrome certifications, air navigation service providers, ground handling companies and dangerous goods approvals.
Najomo revealed that the authority had already reduced the timeline for obtaining Air Operator Certificates from between one and two years to about six to eight months, with plans to further shorten the process to approximately 90 days through the new digital system.
He added that the platform would also support technical certification processes such as aircraft registration, airworthiness certification, maintenance programme approvals, export and import certification of airworthiness, supplemental type certification and monitoring of airworthiness directives.
In his remarks, Director of Airworthiness Standards, Godwin Balang, said the project would finally eliminate paper-based certification procedures within the aviation industry.
Balang noted that effective aviation oversight required modern digital systems capable of handling compliance, safety and operational efficiency, stressing that manual processes were no longer sustainable for the sector’s growing demands.
He explained that the Modern Personnel Licensing and Certification system features integrated modules covering personnel licensing, technical records and organisational approvals to strengthen regulatory oversight across the industry.
Balang also disclosed that the NCAA had engaged international technical partners and undertaken overseas technical engagements, including a recent trip to South America, to understudy global best practices and ensure seamless implementation of the digital transformation project.
