The National Association of Professional Divers (Naprod) has called on foreign oil companies working in the country to repeal legislation that is limiting exposure to the offshore diving sector for Nigerian workers.

In a recent rally in Warri, the president of the organisation Thompson Ogegbene told reporters that some domestic divers were more skilled than those divers shipped in by foreign oil firms, adding that Nigerians need fairer access to the sector.

"Nigerian diving-at-work regulation would effectively regulate the local diving profession, lay the terms for recognition and certification of Nigeria’s professional divers [and] ensure the development of proficient local manpower for the Nigerian diving sub-sector," he told Vanguard.

The organisation is also lobbying federal government to allocate more funding to international diver certification training.

One international firm recently to expand its training facilities in Nigeria is Invensys, which announced earlier this month that it was installing the country's first immersive virtual training facilities for plant management in the oil and gas industry.

5th Global Education and Training event for Oil and Gas: Exploration and Production