As Nigeria pushes for new investments in the oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has scheduled to hold a pre-bid conference for the 2025 oil and gas licensing round. In a statement released on Friday, signed by the NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission said the licensing round pre-bid …
NUPRC Set to Host Pre-bid Conference on 2025 Oil, Gas Licensing Round
As Nigeria pushes for new investments in the oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has scheduled to hold a pre-bid conference for the 2025 oil and gas licensing round.
In a statement released on Friday, signed by the NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission said the licensing round pre-bid conference is scheduled for 9 am Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
According to the statement, the focus areas of the pre-bid conference include the implementation timetable, the bid package preparation, eligibility terms, the assessment and the winners’ determination procedure.
The NUPRC urged investors, operators and stakeholders to attend the licensing round pre-bid conference.
It said the licensing round is rooted in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Pinnacle Daily reports that the NUPRC had announced the commencement of the licensing round bid on December 1, 2025.
The upstream regulator said it is offering 50 oil and gas blocks across deep offshore, shallow waters and onshore terrains.
READ ALSO: NUPRC: Steps for Participating in Nigeria’s 2025 Petroleum Licensing Round
It urged interested members of the public to register for the pre-bid conference through the NUPRC portal br2025.nuprc.gov.ng
Detailed information on the licensing round guidelines, block descriptions and participation instructions is also available on the website, nuprc.gov.ng,” the statement added.
The Commission says it targets about $10 billion in investments through the licensing round and an additional two billion barrels of oil output over the next 10 years with an estimated 400,000 barrels/day of production volumes.
Steps taken to lower entry barriers include reducing the signature bonus range to between $3 million and $7 million from about $10 million previously.
All bidders shall be required to submit a bid within a range of $3 million and $7 million as approved by the Minister of
Petroleum for the reduction of entry barriers. Bids submitted below the Prescribed Range shall be deemed
non-compliant and shall not be evaluated,” NUPRC had earlier stated.
READ ALSO: NUPRC Lists 50 Oil Blocks, Slashes Signature Bonus to $7m
It also set the minimum financial requirement for an entity to
Participate in the licensing round to include an average annual turnover of $100 million for deep offshore blocks and $40 million for onshore and shallow water blocks, a minimum cash in bank of $100 million for deep offshore blocks and $40 for onshore and shallow water blocks, or a bank guarantee of the same amount.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
