Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Criticized for Over-Reliance on Indian Expatriates

A growing concern has emerged in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry regarding the influx of Indian expatriates. According to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the increasing dominance of Indian nationals in the sector is alarming and poses a threat to Nigerian job seekers.

At the closing of the 3rd edition of the Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo spoke out against the issue. He accused Indian companies of exploiting the expatriate quota system, registering numerous shell companies to bring in hundreds of Indians to work in low-level jobs.

Osifo pointed to Sterling Oil as an example, stating that it was astonishing to discover more Indians working there compared to the number of Nigerians. He alleged that Indian companies are taking over low-level jobs, including vulcanizing, and even gate-keeping operations.

PENGASSAN has been engaging the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to address the issue but has not seen any results. The union has been pushing for the development of local capacity and the empowerment of Nigerian graduates to work in the industry.

Osifo emphasized that Nigeria’s oil resources belong to the Nigerian people and should benefit them first and foremost. He warned that if the issue is not addressed, PENGASSAN might resort to confrontation to protect the rights of Nigerian workers.

The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the role of expatriates in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and the need for a balanced approach that promotes both foreign investment and local capacity building.