The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has announced that registration and submission of applications for pre-qualification under the Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round will close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026.
In a public notice, the Commission stated that the deadline aligns with Section 11.2 of the Licensing Round Guidelines and urged applicants to ensure full compliance with all requirements within the prescribed timeline.
The announcement reiterates that technical competence and financial strength, rather than high signature bonuses, will determine success in the ongoing exercise.
During the 2025 Licensing Round pre-bid webinar, the Commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said only applicants with strong technical and financial credentials, professionalism, and credible development plans will advance to the critical stages of the bid process.
The licensing round features 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria’s sedimentary basins and follows a five-step process: registration and pre-qualification, data acquisition, technical bid submission, evaluation, and a commercial bid conference.
“Only candidates with strong technical and financial credentials, professionalism, and credible plans move forward. Winners are chosen through a transparent, merit-based procedure,” Eyesan said.
She disclosed that, with the approval of Bola Tinubu, signature bonuses for the 2025 round have been structured within a defined value range to lower entry barriers and enhance competitiveness. The framework prioritises technical capability, credible work programmes, financial strength, and the ability to deliver production quickly.
Eyesan assured stakeholders that the process would strictly comply with the Petroleum Industry Act while leveraging digital tools to ensure seamless data access. She also noted that the bid process would remain open to public and institutional scrutiny through the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and other oversight bodies.
Describing the licensing round as more than a routine bidding exercise, Eyesan said it represents a re-imagined upstream sector anchored on the rule of law, data-driven regulation, and long-term value creation. The availability of 50 oil and gas blocks gives investors access to key hydrocarbon basins nationwide and positions Nigeria to attract serious capital amid intensifying global competition.
