The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has formally notified successful applicants in the 2025 oil licensing round, the agency announced in a statement on Tuesday.
Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communication at NUPRC, said the pre-qualification exercise was completed on March 16, 2026, in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines. Applicants who passed the screening stage will now move to the competitive bidding phase and gain access to the subsurface data required to prepare their bids.
“The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) wishes to inform the public that it has completed the pre-qualification stage of the 2025 Licensing Round and has notified successful pre-qualified applicants accordingly,” the statement read.
Starting March 17, 2026, shortlisted applicants can lease data commercially and begin preparing technical submissions. Pre-qualified applicants are required to lease data only from the designated sources and provide proof of payment before submitting bids.
The licensing round includes 50 oil and gas blocks across multiple sedimentary basins, including the Niger Delta, Anambra, Bida, Benue Trough, and Chad basins. The initiative aims to attract fresh investment, boost exploration, increase reserves, and support long-term crude production growth in Nigeria.
