NUPRC Opens 50 Oil and Gas Blocks in 2025 Licensing Round

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria’s upstream regulatory body, has officially open 50 oil and gas blocks nationwide for competitive bidding by both domestic and foreign investors.

According to source, the announcement coincides with federal government’s efforts to increase output, increase reserves, and stimulate upstream investment in the largest crude-producing economy in Africa.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the license round, which opened on December 1, 2025. It is one of the biggest acreage offers in recent years.

The bloc packages include access to onshore, shallow water, and deepwater prospects across five of Nigeria’s seven sedimentary basins, including frontier territories and mature producing areas.

Merit‑Based, Transparent Bidding Framework

A merit-based, open, and competitive process has been emphasized in speeches at the pre-bid webinar and stakeholder briefings.

In order to attract serious operators and discourage speculative bidding, NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, informed investors that only companies with shown viable work ethics would move on to the bid rounds.

“This upstream sector is serious business. It is for long-term investment, and it is an open invitation to partnership, transparency, and shared responsibility as we work together to shape the next phase of Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry,” she said.

Pre-qualification and registration, data collection, technical bid submission, assessment, and a commercial bid conference are all part of the organized procedure. According to Eyesan, companies must show plans for quick development from award through exploration, appraisal, and production.

She further stated the signature bonus, a one-time payment upon award, was lowered from higher rates in prior rounds to lower entrance barriers without compromising investor quality in order to further improve competition.

It was set at between $3 million and $7 million per block. After offer letters are sent, bidders must pay these bonuses within 60 days.

In order to ensure broader participation and concentrate winning grants among operators capable of driving development, another new eligibility criterion restricts bidders to a maximum of two blocks each.

Strategic Aims and Oversight

The licensing round, according Eyesan, is more than just a land sale. Rather, it is a calculated move to increase Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves, boost output, and fortify national energy security in an international investment market.

Clear entry rules and transparent processes are now key to attracting long-term investment as global capital moves more freely and energy markets tighten.

In order to uphold public accountability and industry integrity, the commission reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, emphasizing monitoring by organizations like the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Industry Outlook

Nigeria hopes to attract billions of dollars in fresh investment through the oil and gas licensing process. So far, some significant multinational oil corporations have expressed interest in participating under the altered terms.

As the global oil and gas industry shifts toward disciplined, value-driven investment, this round is a test of Nigeria’s capacity to strike a balance between alluring fiscal regimes and high-impact technical choices.

As bid submissions proceed through the coming months, industry experts will closely watch outcome of the 2025 round for indications of how effectively Nigeria can reinvigorate its upstream sector for sustained growth.