Expatriate quota licences are usually issued to foreign, and in some cases, Nigerian firms, to enable them to bring in high-level-skilled manpower that is not readily available in the country.
Speaking at the unveiling of the 2022 revised handbook on expatriate quota administration in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the abuse and gross violations of the expatriate quota policies by foreign investors and Nigerian companies necessitated the move.
He said, “The task force inaugurated in December 2020 has since been carrying out its assignment in all the geopolitical zones of the country. The report of the companies that have not complied with the rules will be published in due time and they will be sanctioned.
“All these measures became imperative in view of abuses and gross violations of the expatriate quota policies by foreign investors and Nigerian companies alike. Before now, I had appealed to foreign companies, nationals, and their governments to begin to respect our laws and warned them that it will no longer be business as usual.”
He also listed stopping capital flight, patriotism and tackling unemployment as part of the reasons for the action.
Aregbesola said, “Regulating the influx of foreign nationals into Nigeria’s business environment is important for several reasons. As much as we would like to be open and welcome foreign nationals, our primary concern is the welfare of the Nigerian people.
“We will want them to take as many of the job opportunities in the country. We will also want Nigerians to be in charge of the most sensitive positions in the economy because we can count on their patriotism more than on foreigners. No one is going to love Nigeria more than Nigerians. Also, for these top earners, there is the least likelihood of capital flight from income earned by Nigerians in Nigeria, whereas an expatriate may not be so committed.”
Aregbesola, however, disclosed that in three years a total of 13,829 expatriates and 1,161 business permits had been issued.
He said, “We have issued 13,829 expatriate quota permits between 2019 and 2022. Also, a total of 1,161 business permits have been issued within the years under review. This is given to foreign companies to operate in Nigeria. We need to know them and monitor them.”
