19 Nigerian Oil Licences Face Expiry In 2026
The report, which provides an overview of petroleum exploration and production concessions across the country, covers both Petroleum Prospecting Licences and Oil Prospecting Licences.
Of the affected concessions, 12 are Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs), while seven are Oil Prospecting Licences (OPLs). The report also shows that three licences had stated expiry dates in 2025, while additional concessions are scheduled to expire in 2027.
Among the PPLs due to expire in 2026 is PPL 220, held by Navante Exploration and Production Limited, with an expiry date of October 16, 2026. PPL 232, held by Kizi Oil and Gas Services Limited, is scheduled to expire on November 16, while PPL 235, held by Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, has a November 1 expiry date.
PPL 223 is listed with an expiry date of November 30, 2026, while another concession in the same category is scheduled to expire on December 28. PPL 251 also has a November 16, 2026 expiry date, while PPL 266, held by AOS Orchard Petroleum Development Limited, is due to expire on November 21.
The report further lists PPL 277, PPL 275 and PPL 254 with February 14, 2026 expiry dates, meaning their stated tenure had elapsed by the time the August report was published. However, the document does not indicate that the affected concessions had been revoked or cancelled.
In the OPL category, the concessions include OPL 228, held by Sahara Upstream Production Nigeria Limited, which has a July 9, 2026 expiry date, and OPL 289, operated by Cleanwaters Consortium, with a September 9 expiry date.
Also listed are OPL 809 and OPL 810, both with June 14 expiry dates; OPL 276, which expired on August 14; and OPL 2010, whose stated tenure runs until December 23, 2026.
OPL 215, held by Noreast Petroleum Nigeria Limited, is also listed with a May 3, 2026 expiry date.
The affected concessions span different geographical areas and acreage types, including onshore, shallow-water and continental shelf assets in the Niger Delta.
For instance, PPL 220 covers 44.816 square kilometres in the onshore Niger Delta and is associated with the Abigborodo field, derived from OML 49.
PPL 232 covers 32.366 square kilometres on the continental shelf and is associated with the Amaniba field, derived from OML 67, while PPL 235 covers 28.121 square kilometres and is associated with the Udara field, derived from OML 70.
The expiry schedule comes amid renewed activity by the upstream regulator to allocate fresh acreage to investors.
In July 2026, the NUPRC issued 19 Petroleum Prospecting Licences to 12 successful awardees under the 2024 Licensing Round and the 2022/2023 Mini Bid Round.
The commission said the new licences cover deep offshore, shallow-water and continental shelf acreage, with several of the licences granted on July 8, 2026, carrying expiry dates of July 7, 2031.
Among the new awards are PPL 2007, PPL 3011, PPL 2006, PPL 2003-DO, PPL 2005, PPL 3017, PPL 2002, PPL 2008, PPL 2009, PPL 304-DO and PPL 306-DO.
The regulator also awarded PPL 2008 to Tulcan Energy E&P Company Limited and PPL 2009 to Broron Energy Limited.
The development highlights the continued turnover of Nigeria’s upstream acreage as the NUPRC implements the Petroleum Industry Act and manages the expiration, conversion and reallocation of existing concessions.
However, the report does not suggest that all 19 concessions will automatically leave their current holders on the stated expiry dates.
Some entries are marked for “possible optional tenure extension” or conversion, while others are identified as having “conversion in progress,” indicating that the status of some concessions could change beyond their stated expiry dates.
