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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Energy & Infrastructure

143 firms vie for 50 oil blocks in Nigeria's 2025 licensing round

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Nigeria's Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is opening the commercial phase of its 2025 oil and gas licensing round.
  • 143 companies will compete for 50 blocks across various Nigerian hydrocarbon basins.
  • The process involves evaluating signature bonuses, work program commitments, and performance security to determine winning bids.

Nigeria's quest to boost its oil and gas production enters a critical phase this week as the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) opens the commercial bid conference for its 2025 licensing round. The event, strictly by invitation, will see 143 companies vying for 50 oil and gas blocks.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has invited qualified companies to the highly anticipated commercial Bid Conference slated for July 21, 2026.

— Eniola AkinkuotuStatement from the Head of Media and Corporate Communications of the NUPRC

The licensing round, which began in November 2025, has attracted significant interest from domestic and international firms eager to access Nigeria's upstream petroleum assets. The NUPRC has confirmed that companies that successfully navigated the rigorous prequalification process have been notified and invited to the conference in Abuja.

The 50 blocks on offer span diverse geological terrains, including onshore and offshore areas in the Niger Delta, as well as blocks in the Benin, Anambra, Chad, and Benue Trough basins. This spread reflects a federal government strategy to encourage exploration beyond traditional producing regions and stimulate activity in frontier areas with substantial hydrocarbon potential.

These companies which scaled through the transparent and rigorous process have been notified and are expected to physically attend the Commercial Bid Conference taking place at the Conference Center, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Attendance is strictly by invitation. On offer are 50 oil and gas blocks across diverse terrains. The Niger Delta Onshore (16), Niger Delta Shallow Water (18), Niger Delta Deep Offshore (1), Benin Basin Onshore (3), Anambra Basin Onshore (4), Chad Basin Onshore (4) and Benue Trough (4).

— Eniola AkinkuotuStatement from the Head of Media and Corporate Communications of the NUPRC

Winning bids will be determined by a weighted technical and commercial score, based on key parameters such as the signature bonus, work program commitments, and commitment to performance security. The NUPRC emphasized the transparency and rigor of the prequalification process that led to the current stage.

In line with the guidelines, the elements of bid parameters include: the signature bonus, the work programme commitment and commitment to performance security culminating in a weighted technical and commercial score which will determine a winning bid.

— Eniola AkinkuotuStatement from the Head of Media and Corporate Communications of the NUPRC
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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