The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board approved 448 expatriate quota requests for foreign professionals in the oil and gas sector during the first half of 2025, signaling a continued reliance on foreign expertise even as the federal government intensifies efforts to boost local participation.

In the official data, the NCDMB granted 246 EQ slots in Q1 and 202 in Q2. These approvals allow foreign nationals to fill roles where qualified Nigerian personnel are not available, particularly in highly technical disciplines such as offshore engineering, subsea operations, and digital geoscience, according to The Punch.

The total approvals for H1 2025 represent an 18% decline compared to the 549 granted during the first three quarters of 2024. In addition to the EQs, 158 Temporary Work Permits were approved—111 in Q1 and 47 in Q2.

Meanwhile, 319 EQ requests were rejected, indicating a tightening of scrutiny by the board. Only five TWP applications were denied during the same period.

The NCDMB said all approvals followed rigorous reviews to confirm the non-availability of suitably qualified Nigerians.

The agency, established to enforce the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, emphasized that its decisions align with the government’s agenda to deepen local content participation to 70 per cent, up from the current 56 per cent.

The trend of expatriate hiring remains a contentious issue. In March 2025, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria confronted Sterling Oil over the employment of foreign nationals, alleging violations of local content rules. The standoff, which involved accusations against the Ministries of Labour and Interior for issuing up to 11,000 permits to Indian nationals, ended with a commitment from the company to replace the expatriates with Nigerians.

Industry stakeholders continue to raise concerns over fragmented oversight, with reports that various government bodies independently issue expatriate permits. Nonetheless, the NCDMB maintains its position as the key regulator for content development in the sector.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has reiterated the importance of growing indigenous capacity to create jobs and retain value locally.

The board, through stricter EQ monitoring and enforcement of skill transfer programs, aims to reduce long-term dependence on foreign labour.