The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally presented FirstNation Airways with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Certificate.

The certificate was presented to the airline's Director of Flight Operations, Capt. Chimara Imediegwu on Friday by IATA's Area Manager, South West Africa, Mr Samson Fatokun in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the IOSA programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline.

Created by IATA in 2003, IOSA uses internationally recognised quality audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner.

Successful companies are included in the IOSA registry for a period of two years following an audit carried out by an organisation accredited by IATA.

With the presentation, First Nation Airways has now joined Arik Air and Aero Contractors as the only IOSA certified airlines operating in Nigeria.