Nigeria Aviation Authority Probes Syndicate Over Fake Engineer Licenses

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched an investigation into a suspected syndicate that allegedly issues fraudulent Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's Licenses (AMEL) at exorbitant prices. The NCAA discovered irregularities in the application process, documentation, and payments concerning a specific license, AMEL Number 6520, converted on January 16, 2026.

According to Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (Nig. CARs Part 2), the NCAA is not supposed to issue standalone AMELs to foreign engineers. Instead, it should validate foreign-issued licenses for engineers working on Nigerian-registered aircraft. The suspected syndicate reportedly charges between N500,000 and N700,000 for these licenses, a stark contrast to the official cost of N50,000.

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The Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licence number 6520 converted on 16th January, 2026 is currently under investigation. The Authority discovered irregularities with the application process, procedures and relevant documents including payment concerning the licence and the ratings converted.

The NCAA has requested the individual under investigation to submit all application documents and payment evidence within seven days. Failure to comply will result in the matter being processed without their statement. The authority has also prohibited the individual from exercising the privileges of the license during the investigation.

In a related matter, findings suggest that some pilots operating private jets under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) may be renewing their licenses without undergoing mandatory simulator training. Industry insiders describe this practice as illegal and a breach of regulations, as pilots are required to pass a Pilot Proficiency Check (PPC) or Operator Proficiency Check (OPC) in a flight simulator for license renewal, typically every year. A report from last year's Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations confirmed that some investigated pilots had not obtained their PPC or OPC for 24 to 26 months.

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The Authority is currently investigating the irregularities with this licence. We wish to offer you an opportunity to submit to the undersigned copies of every application document and evidence of payment leading to the conversion of the licence within seven days following receipt of this letter. By this letter you are not allowed to exercise the privileges contained in the licence. If we do not hear from you within the specified time, we will process this matter without the benefit of your statement.