NUPRC sets June 12 deadline for final bids in 2025 oil block licensing round

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced June 12, 2026, as the deadline for the submission of technical and commercial bids by companies prequalified to participate in the ongoing 2025 Oil Block Licensing Round.

In a public notice issued on Tuesday via its official social media platform, the commission urged all eligible applicants to ensure compliance with the stipulated deadline and guidelines governing the exercise.

According to the regulator, bid submissions will close at 4:30 p.m. West African Time on the specified date.

“The NUPRC hereby notifies the general public that submission of Technical and Commercial Bids by Prequalified Applicants for the 2025 Licensing Round closes on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 16:30 hours (WAT) in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines,” the notice stated.

The commission directed stakeholders seeking additional information on the exercise to access details through its dedicated licensing portal.

The announcement marks a significant stage in the licensing process, with prequalified investors now expected to submit final proposals for consideration as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to attract fresh investments into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Under the licensing framework, interested firms are required to scale through a prequalification phase before proceeding to the technical and commercial bid stage, which will ultimately determine successful applicants.

The 2025 Licensing Round is being conducted under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and forms part of broader government initiatives aimed at expanding exploration activities, increasing hydrocarbon reserves and unlocking stranded oil and gas assets.

The exercise, which commenced in December 2025, offered a total of 50 oil and gas blocks to investors. The portfolio comprises 15 onshore blocks, 19 shallow-water blocks, 15 frontier exploration blocks and one deep-water block.

Regulators estimate that successful development of the assets could attract investments worth about $10 billion, unlock approximately two billion barrels of oil reserves and add up to 400,000 barrels of oil per day to national production capacity over the next decade.

The commission had concluded the prequalification stage in March and subsequently notified successful applicants to proceed to the bidding phase.

Meanwhile, preparations are already underway for the next licensing exercise.

The Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, recently disclosed that the 2026 Licensing Round had received ministerial approval and is expected to commence before the end of the third quarter of this year.

Eyesan expressed confidence in the progress made so far in the ongoing licensing exercise, noting that the commercial bidding process would be concluded ahead of the launch of the 2026 round.

The development highlights the regulator’s commitment to sustaining annual licensing rounds as provided for under the Petroleum Industry Act, a policy designed to ensure transparency, competitiveness and greater investor participation in the allocation of petroleum assets.