NCAA Targets 90-Day Airline Certification Process

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced a plan to reduce the airline certification process timeline to 90 days, part of a broader digital transformation initiative aimed at modernizing aviation regulatory processes in Nigeria. Director General Chris Najomo unveiled this initiative at Murtala Muhammed Airport, emphasizing the need to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with the manual licensing and certification system.

Najomo disclosed that the current administration has already reduced the timeline for obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from five years to six to eight months. The new digital platform is expected to further streamline the process, with a target implementation date of July 2, 2026, for a fully digital personnel licensing and medical certification system.

This initiative will enhance transparency, reduce turnaround times, and improve security compliance in the aviation industry, moving away from paper-based processes. The digital transformation agenda will also cover air operator certification processes and other aviation-related approvals.