NUPRC Emphasises Technical, Financial Strength in 2025 Licensing Round
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has clarified that only companies with strong technical and financial capacity will advance in the ongoing 2025 oil and gas licensing round, as interest builds around the 50 blocks currently on offer.
Speaking at the 2025 licensing round pre-bid webinar held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Commission’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the process is designed to favour serious investors with the competence and resources to deliver timely production.
Eyesan explained that the licensing round will follow a five-stage process comprising registration and pre-qualification, data acquisition, technical bid submission, evaluation, and a commercial bid conference.
“Only candidates with strong technical and financial credentials, professionalism, and credible plans move forward. Winners are chosen through a transparent, merit-based procedure,” she said.
She disclosed that, with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signature bonuses for the 2025 licensing round have been set within a defined value range to reduce entry barriers for investors. According to her, the adjustment places greater emphasis on technical capability, credible work programmes, financial strength, and the ability to achieve production within the shortest possible timeframe.
“This has been done to increase competitiveness and in response to capital mobility,” Eyesan stated.
Describing the licensing round as an open call to committed partners, the NUPRC chief said Nigeria is seeking investors ready to deploy capital, apply technical excellence, and accelerate asset development from licence award through exploration and appraisal to full-scale production.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparency, noting that Nigeria is positioning itself as an attractive destination for investment and advanced technology deployment in hydrocarbon recovery.
“In this licensing round, 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria are available, allowing investors to access the country’s key basins and create long-term value,” she added.
Eyesan further assured stakeholders that the bidding process would fully comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), leverage digital tools to ensure seamless data access, and remain open to public and institutional scrutiny through the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and other oversight bodies.
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“The Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise. It is a clear signal of a re-imagined upstream sector, anchored in the rule of law, driven by data, aligned with global investment realities, and focused on long-term value creation,” she said.
During the webinar, NUPRC subject matter experts also walked prospective investors through the licensing guidelines, model contracts, bid parameters, and evaluation criteria, with a view to reducing uncertainty and strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s upstream investment framework.
