Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shortlisted bidders for the 2025 oil and gas licensing round on March 16, 2026. Successful applicants now access data for technical and commercial bids. Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, offers 50 blocks across onshore, shallow water, frontier, and deepwater sites.
Pre-qualified firms lease geological data from approved sources starting March 17. Proof of payment remains mandatory for bid submissions. NUPRC stresses transparency through its digital portal.
Okay News reports the official notice. The commission stated, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission wishes to inform the public that it has completed the pre-qualification stage of the 2025 Licensing Round and has notified successful pre-qualified applicants accordingly.” Data access prepares firms for competitive evaluation.
Signature bonuses dropped to $3-7 million per block with presidential approval. This cuts costs from 2024’s $10 million and past highs near $200 million. The move draws investor interest.
NUPRC launched the round in December 2025 to boost upstream investment. Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe highlighted past rounds’ transparency, earning praise from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
Blocks span five sedimentary basins: 15 onshore, 19 shallow-water, 15 frontier, and 1 deepwater. The process follows 2022 and 2024 successes without disputes.
Nigeria seeks fresh exploration amid production shortfalls. Qualified bidders eye untapped reserves. Final awards hinge on bid quality and work plans.
 shortlisted bidders for the 2025 oil and gas licensing round on March 16, 2026. Successful applicants now access data for technical and commercial bids.){kind=link}