. As NUPRC Holds 2025 Licensing Round Commercial Bid Conference
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has invited qualified companies to participate in the highly anticipated Commercial Bid Conference for the 2025 Licensing Round, scheduled for July 21, 2026.
The companies, which successfully scaled the transparent and rigorous prequalification process, have been notified and are expected to attend the conference in person at the Conference Centre, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Attendance is strictly by invitation.
Up for grabs are 50 oil and gas blocks across seven basins and terrains: 16 Niger Delta Onshore blocks, 18 Niger Delta Shallow Water blocks, one Niger Delta Deep Offshore block, three Benin Basin Onshore blocks, four Anambra Basin Onshore blocks, four Chad Basin Onshore blocks, and four Benue Trough blocks.
In line with the licensing guidelines, bid evaluation will be based on key commercial parameters, including the signature bonus, work programme commitment, and commitment to performance security. These elements will be combined with the technical assessment to produce a weighted technical and commercial score that will determine the successful bidders.
The 2025 Licensing Round was officially launched on November 11, 2025, and widely advertised in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
The bid portal opened for registration on December 1, 2025, while a Pre-Bid Conference was held on January 14, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, to acquaint registered bidders and other stakeholders with the guidelines and procedures for the exercise.
Registration and submission of prequalification documents closed on February 27, 2026, while the prequalification evaluation was concluded on March 16, 2026.
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A total of 286 companies submitted prequalification applications, of which 196 were prequalified to proceed to the technical and commercial bid stages. Subsequently, 143 companies submitted a total of 200 bids.
The 143 qualified companies are expected to participate in the Commercial Bid Conference on July 21, 2026, marking a major milestone in the ongoing licensing round aimed at attracting investment and boosting exploration activities in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
