The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has shortlisted bidders for the 2025 licensing round.
On March 16, 2026, the commission completed pre-qualification and personally notified successful applicants across Nigeria.
NUPRC Shortlists Bidders For Licensing
Consequently, this milestone signals the transition from initial evaluation to the highly competitive bidding phase.
Moreover, Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, confirmed the completion in an official statement.
Now, shortlisted bidders can access crucial subsurface data to prepare technical and commercial proposals.
Importantly, only applicants who cleared the pre-qualification hurdle may lease data, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Additionally, applicants must obtain data exclusively from approved sources and provide proof of payment for eligibility.
Licensing Round Details
The 2025 licensing round offers 50 oil and gas blocks across five sedimentary basins nationwide.
Specifically, these include 15 onshore, 19 shallow-water, 15 frontier basin, and one deepwater block.
Furthermore, the commission reduced the signature bonus to $3–$7 million, down from $10 million in 2024.
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This reduction, approved by the President, encourages broader participation from prospective investors across Nigeria.
Previously, licensing rounds required nearly $200 million, which discouraged smaller participants from joining the process.
In December 2025, NUPRC launched a digital bid portal to enhance transparency and simplify applications.
Additionally, Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe explained that the portal attracts investment and expands exploration opportunities.
Preparing For Bidding
Earlier licensing initiatives, including the 2022 Mini-Bid and 2024 Licensing Rounds, offered globally competitive frameworks.
The 2024 Licensing Round concluded without litigation and earned praise from local and international stakeholders.
Consequently, bidders now prepare proposals carefully, studying subsurface data to build winning strategies.
This pre-qualification success represents the first major step in Nigeria’s renewed push for exploration growth.
Finally, as the bidding phase unfolds, industry watchers anticipate a new wave of investments and discoveries.
