NCDMB approves more than 440 expatriate positions in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has confirmed the approval of over 440 expatriate quota slots for various oil and gas companies operating in the country. The announcement, made during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, reflects the Board’s continued effort to strike a balance between attracting foreign expertise and promoting indigenous participation in the sector.

According to the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the approvals followed a rigorous vetting process aimed at ensuring that only necessary expatriate roles are filled, and that qualified Nigerians are not sidelined in key technical and managerial positions.

Ogbe stated that the approved positions are largely for short- to medium-term roles where critical knowledge transfer is required. “Our review system ensures that expatriates are only brought in for areas where we lack capacity locally, and even at that, it must be for a limited period,” he said.

The NCDMB boss emphasized that the Board’s Expatriate Quota Management Platform is being used to monitor the approval process, enforce compliance with Nigerian Content regulations, and assess the level of knowledge transfer from foreign personnel to Nigerian workers. He added that companies are mandated to submit detailed succession plans that show how Nigerian professionals will be trained and prepared to take over those positions.

“These approvals are not a free pass for companies to bypass local talent,” Ogbe stressed. “Each slot comes with strict conditions, including mandatory training programmes and mentorship structures for Nigerian staff. We are fully committed to reducing overdependence on foreign labour in the oil and gas sector.”

The 440+ slots approved in the first half of 2025 represent a small percentage of the total expatriate workforce previously active in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, signaling a reduction in foreign labor reliance. The NCDMB has consistently pushed for deeper local content integration, guided by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

Since the enactment of the NOGICD Act, Nigeria has made notable strides in increasing the participation of indigenous firms and professionals in upstream and downstream activities. The Act mandates that Nigerian content must form a minimum percentage of all contracts awarded in the industry, and this extends to employment policies and human capital development.

Ogbe highlighted that the approved expatriate roles are mostly tied to major oil projects that require temporary international input for highly specialized tasks, including offshore drilling operations, deepwater engineering, and advanced geophysical modeling. He assured the public that these skills are being documented and transferred to local professionals through joint project teams and structured knowledge sharing.

Industry stakeholders have praised the NCDMB’s transparency and due diligence, saying it represents a balanced approach to workforce development. Speaking on the development, Mr. Bamidele Afolabi, a petroleum economist and policy analyst, said the move shows that Nigeria is not closing its doors to foreign expertise but is instead demanding accountability and results.

“It’s about protecting our national interest while staying competitive,” Afolabi said. “If we want to develop our oil and gas sector sustainably, we must allow room for innovation and international best practices, but also ensure Nigerians are not perpetual spectators in their own economy.”

The NCDMB also reiterated that any violation of its expatriate policies by oil firms would attract strict sanctions, including fines, withdrawal of approvals, or suspension of operating licenses. It warned companies against using unapproved personnel or deploying expatriates for positions that can be effectively handled by Nigerians.

In response to the growing demand for skilled local workers, the NCDMB says it is scaling up its Human Capacity Development programme, which includes training over 2,000 young Nigerians in specialized oil and gas-related disciplines this year alone. The training covers areas such as underwater welding, pipeline inspection, automation engineering, and project management.

The Board also disclosed plans to partner with local universities and polytechnics to update curriculum standards and align them with industry demands. This is in line with its broader vision to make Nigeria a hub for oil and gas talent in Africa.

As the Nigerian oil and gas sector continues to evolve with new investments and projects in both traditional and renewable energy spaces, the NCDMB insists that local content development remains central to national economic growth. With over 440 expatriate slots now approved under strict compliance terms, the Board says it will continue to monitor performance and ensure that the goals of skill transfer, job creation, and sectoral competitiveness are fully realized.