Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari [official bio] signed an executive order Monday “to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.”

Buhari announced [Tweet] Executive Order 5 (EO) via his official Twitter account stating: “the EO is expected to promote the application of science, tech and innovation towards achieving Nigeria’s development goals.” Additionally, the EO prevents the Ministry of Interior [official website] from issuing visas to foreign workers for job positions that Nigerian citizens themselves could perform. Buhari explained one exception to this provision, stating: “where expertise is lacking, procuring entities will give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous development, prior to the award of such contracts.”

EO 5 titled, “Presidential Executive Order 5 for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology,” also directs [Sun report] “Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects.”