By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has successfully concluded the pre-qualification stage of the 2025 Oil Licensing Round, paving the way for companies to access critical data ahead of the bidding process.
A statement by Head of Media and Strategic Communication at NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu on Tuesday in Abuja, confirmed that the pre-qualification exercise was completed on March 16 in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines.
“With the pre-qualification stage now successfully completed, the Commission will from March 17 permit successful applicants to lease data in preparation for the technical and commercial bid submissions,” the statement read.
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Akinkuotu emphasised that pre-qualified applicants are required to lease data exclusively from the designated sources and submit evidence of payment as a prerequisite for bid submissions. He directed interested parties to the licensing round portal for further details: https://br2025.nuprc.gov.ng.
The 2025 Licensing Round, which opened in December 2025, offers 50 oil and gas blocks, including 15 onshore assets, 19 shallow water blocks, 15 frontier blocks, and one deepwater block. The Commission aims to attract approximately $10 billion in investments through this competitive bidding process.
Licensing rounds are key mechanisms through which the Nigerian government grants exploration and production rights to oil and gas companies, encouraging investment, technology transfer, and sector growth.
NUPRC’s timely completion of the pre-qualification stage signals its commitment to transparency and efficiency, positioning the sector for robust participation by local and international investors.
