NUPRC advances to next phase in Nigeria’s 50-block oil licensing round
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has completed the pre-qualification stage for Nigeria’s 2025 oil and gas licensing round. The commission has notified successful applicants and is moving forward to the competitive bidding phase. Only pre-qualified firms will be allowed to access crucial subsurface data for bid preparation. The process is designed to ensure transparency, credibility, and the participation of serious investors.
What we know
- NUPRC announced the completion of the pre-qualification stage of the 2025 Licensing Round, with successful applicants notified.
- The milestone was achieved on March 16, 2026, in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines.
- From March 17, 2026, pre-qualified applicants can lease data in preparation for technical and commercial bid submissions.
- The 2025 oil licensing round was formally launched in December 2025 after approval by President Bola Tinubu.
- The submission window for pre-qualification closed on February 27, 2026, with qualified companies now set to proceed to the next phase.
