NUPRC advances 2025 oil licensing spherical to bidding stage

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee has superior Nigeria’s 2025 oil and fuel licensing spherical to a crucial stage, saying the completion of the pre-qualification course of and formally notifying profitable candidates, in a transfer that alerts the transition from screening to aggressive bidding.

In an announcement issued on Tuesday, the fee introduced that the milestone, achieved on March 16, 2026, marks the completion of the preliminary screening section performed in accordance with the 2025 Licensing Spherical Tips and units the stage for the following section of the train.

The discover, signed by the Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, confirmed that solely candidates who scaled the pre-qualification hurdle would proceed to entry the subsurface knowledge required for bid preparation.

The discover learn, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee needs to tell the general public that it has accomplished the pre-qualification stage of the 2025 Licensing Spherical and has notified profitable pre-qualified candidates accordingly.

“This was executed on March 16, 2026, consistent with the 2025 Licensing Spherical Tips. With the pre-qualification stage now accomplished, the Fee will, from immediately, March 17, 2026, allow profitable candidates to lease knowledge in preparation for the technical and business bid submissions.”

The regulator harassed that entry to credible geological and geophysical knowledge could be strictly managed, underscoring its push for transparency and standardisation within the bid course of.

The emphasis on paid knowledge entry displays a deliberate shift by the Fee to make sure that solely severe and technically succesful buyers proceed to the bidding stage, decreasing speculative participation.

By insisting on proof of knowledge buy earlier than bid submission, the regulator is successfully filtering out unserious bidders whereas additionally boosting confidence within the integrity of the method.

The fee directed stakeholders to its devoted portal for additional particulars, noting that each one subsequent levels of the train could be performed digitally to reinforce effectivity and accountability.

“Please notice, pre-qualified candidates are mandated to lease knowledge solely from the 2 knowledge sources (as relevant) and add proof of fee as a prerequisite to the submission of bids,” the discover concluded.

The 2025 oil licensing spherical was formally launched in December 2025 following approval by President Bola Tinubu as a part of efforts to draw contemporary funding into the nation’s upstream petroleum sector.

The bid spherical provides 50 oil and fuel blocks positioned throughout a number of sedimentary basins, together with the Niger Delta, Anambra, Bida, Benue Trough, and Chad basins, with the target of boosting exploration exercise, growing reserves, and supporting long-term crude manufacturing development.

As of now, the method has accomplished the pre-qualification stage, with the submission window closing on February 27, 2026, after which certified firms are anticipated to proceed to the technical and business bidding section, the place bids will likely be evaluated earlier than ultimate awards are introduced.

The newest growth signifies that the 2025 spherical is progressing on schedule, with the following section anticipated to culminate within the submission of technical and business bids, adopted by analysis and eventual award of oil blocks.

For potential buyers, the instant job is evident: safe the required knowledge, meet compliance situations, and put together aggressive bids in what’s shaping as much as be one among Nigeria’s most intently watched licensing workouts lately.