The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has officially launched the Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round, marking a key step in the Federal Government’s efforts to expand investment in the oil and gas sector.
At a press briefing in Abuja, NUPRC Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, unveiled the dedicated bid portal: br2025.nuprc.gov.ng. The round, approved by President Bola Tinubu, offers 50 blocks across onshore, shallow water, frontier basins, and deepwater areas, including 15 onshore, 19 shallow water, 15 frontier, and 1 deepwater block.
Komolafe said the initiative aims to boost reserves, increase production capacity, expand gas utilisation, create jobs, and enhance indigenous participation. To attract investors, signature bonuses have been reduced, and extensive 2D and 3D seismic data surveys have been conducted to de-risk exploration.
The licensing round adopts a two-stage, fully digital bidding process, including qualification and bid stages. Technical capacity, professionalism, and financial capability will determine successful applicants, while company age or incorporation date is not a limiting factor.
The 2025 Licensing Round is projected to attract $10 billion in investments, add up to 2 billion barrels to national oil reserves over the next decade, and deliver an estimated 400,000 barrels per day from fully developed assets.
