As CITA Achieves ISO Certification Milestone

Chinedu Eze

One of the leading aviation fuel (Jet A1) distribution companies in Nigeria, CITA Energies, achieved a milestone recently when it attained internationally recognised ISO certifications.

The International Standard Organisation (ISO) certification is a seal of approval from a third-party body that a company complies with one of the international standards developed by ISO. It verifies that a business maintains high standards for quality, safety, efficiency, and consistency in its processes, products, or services.

Standards exist for various areas, including quality management (ISO 9001), environmental management (ISO 14001), information security (ISO 27001), and food safety (ISO 22000).

It ensures organisations meet global benchmarks, improve operational efficiency, and build trust with customers. Companies must implement a management system, document procedures, and pass an audit by an independent accredited certification body; but it is not a one-time achievement; certification requires on-going commitment to improvement and periodic audits to ensure continued compliance.

It was a historical feat for CITA to have achieved triple ISO certifications at the same period.

So, it was all glitz and glamour last week at the NIGAV centre, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as the company unveiled the three internationally recognised certifications for ISO 45001: 2018 occupational health and safety management system; ISO 9001: 2015 quality management system and ISO 14001: 2015 environmental management system.

CITA Energies, a division of the CITA Group, began operations in Nigeria in 2006. As an aviation fuel specialist, the company has grown to become a major supplier, operating across 15 airfields within Nigeria’s six geopolitical regions. 

Speaking during the event, Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, CITA Energies, Ms. Titilayo Olaore, ascribed the win to staff dedication and hard work adding that ‘the extra work, cross-checking and re-evaluation by staff yielded expected result’.

She said the unprecedented acquisition of the coveted certifications is a testament to the company’s dedication to world-class quality management principles.

While pledging the commitment of the company to its partners, she said, “To every member of our team who contributed to this process, your dedication has made this milestone possible. Your work has laid the foundation for a stronger and more resilient organization. And to our partners and stakeholders, we remain committed to building an organisation that operates with integrity, reliability, and world-class standards.”

According to her, at CITA, discipline and commitment to standards form the core values that guide its daily operations, hence the achievements.

“Today is not simply about celebrating a certification, it is about celebrating discipline. Across many organizations, standards are often written into manuals but rarely embedded into culture. Certificates are displayed on walls, yet the systems and accountability required to truly uphold them remain absent.

” For us, this journey demanded more. Achieving ISO certification required a deliberate shift in how we think, how we operate, and how we hold ourselves accountable. It required us to examine our processes, strengthen our governance, and build systems that ensure consistency, transparency, and operational integrity. In an industry where credibility is everything, these standards matter. They signal to our regulators, partners, and stakeholders that our commitment to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility is not aspirational — it is institutional,” she said.

Olaore, who was obviously elated by the recognition, said, however, that the certificate itself is not the achievement; that the real achievement lies in the discipline required to maintain these standards every single day.

“ISO is not a destination; it is a continuous commitment to improvement, accountability, and operational excellence. What we celebrate today therefore is not just compliance with international standards, but the strengthening of an institution — one that is built on structure, professionalism, and a clear commitment to doing things the right way.

“The certificate may represent this achievement today, but the true test will always be how faithfully we live up to the standards it represents,” she added.

“We maintain accurate records at any time and we can provide our customers with detailed and accurate records of fuel deliveries in all our locations at any given time. In alignment with our commitment to operational excellence, we pay strict attention to Health, Safety and environmental regulations and policies while taking our executives through frequent extensive training, “Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer,” Olaore added.

She also said that it was the policy of CITA to use a Quality Assurance System

(QAS) as a management tool to ensure that the required level of quality is planned, obtained and maintained. 

Also speaking, Mr. Olayinka Ajibola, one of the directors of the company, said the three awards show CITA’s commitment to operational efficiency and a testament to what it is and what it stands for.

“The awards show our commitment to quality and our responsibility towards the environment and sustainability, this reinforces our dedication to the safety of our employees, safety and reliability are non-negotiable, we believe that it is wrong for our staff to sustain injuries or die while on duty, the certifications reflect our culture, discipline and accountability. Above all, this was made possible through collaborative efforts,” he said.

Also, the Managing Consultant at Finsbury Hanz Ltd, James Badmos, disclosed that Bluestar Management Systems, a certification body, audited and issued the certificates to CITA Energies, adding that its authenticity could be verified from the website of International Accreditation Forum (IAF) or at iafcertsearch.org.

While urging CITA Energies to guard the certificates jealously without lowering its operational standards, he said the first surveillance audit on the company would take place next year, to be followed by a second surveillance in 2028 before recertification. 

Considering the dynamics of the Nigerian market, the company said it would continue to use its in-depth knowledge and cross-trained cadre of employees to ensure that all commitments are met in a timely manner. 
“CITA has adopted the international ISO 9001:2015 standard for Quality management; it is committed to the delivery of quality products and services in full compliance with its contractual requirements. 
In order to keep the standards and to soar above its competitors, CITA is committed to continued improvement of her products, processes, systems and services to ensure “RIGHT FIRST TIME” delivery and encourage all employees to participate in achieving the stated Quality objectives. 
“CITA’s vision is that of a strong player/ operator in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry, with a global mind-set and outreach, as such her core mandate is to ensure that all her services comply with international standards
Leveraging its extensive network, CITA offers fuelling services across 15 airfields within Nigeria’s six geopolitical regions.

Considering the dynamics of the Nigerian market, CITA uses her in-depth knowledge and cross-trained cadre of employees to ensure that all commitments are met in a timely manner. 
“We maintain accurate records at any time and we can provide our customers with detailed and accurate records of fuel deliveries in all our locations at any given time. In alignment with our commitment to operational excellence, we pay strict attention to health, safety and environmental regulations and policies while taking our executives through frequent extensive training,” the company said in a statement.

In a highly regulated Jet A1 market, CITA Energies seems to have set a high pace, which others strive to reach, as it has pioneered these ISO certifications in one fell swoop. Other marketers in the industry must brace up to meet the CITA standards.