The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the commencement of the 2025 Licensing Round, effective December 1.
The commission’s chief executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, made the announcement at the NUPRC’s Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum in London on Tuesday.
In a statement issued today, the NUPRC Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, quoted Mr Komolafe as saying the announcement followed the approval of President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act.
“We are announcing that we are ready, following the approval of the Minister of Petroleum Resources in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, to commence the 2025 Licensing Round beginning from December 1, 2025,” he said.
The 2025 Licensing Round is aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s undeveloped and fallow oil and gas fields, with a particular focus on gas assets.
Earlier, Business Post reported that there were expectations that fresh licensing would add 1.7 million barrels and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas from 43 Field Development Plans (FDPs).
According to Mr Komolafe, the initiative seeks to accelerate upstream production and bring previously discovered but unexploited fields into commercial operation.
Licensing rounds have been a key feature of Nigeria’s upstream sector for decades. Major rounds were conducted in 2000, 2005 and 2007, while the 2010s saw smaller, targeted rounds for marginal fields and deepwater assets.
These exercises were designed to attract investors and stimulate production, although some blocks awarded in earlier rounds stalled due to technical, financial or regulatory challenges.
The NUPRC is expected to publish detailed guidelines, including the list of blocks on offer, pre-qualification requirements, and submission timelines, ahead of the licensing round to ensure transparency and clarity for all prospective investors.