The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced Friday, June 12, 2026, as the deadline for the submission of technical and commercial bids by prequalified applicants participating in the 2025 Licensing Round.
The commission disclosed this in a notice published on its official X account on Tuesday, urging all qualified bidders to adhere strictly to the timelines outlined in the licensing guidelines.
According to the notice, submissions will close at 4:30 p.m. West Africa Time (WAT).
“The NUPRC hereby notifies the general public that submission of Technical and Commercial Bids by Prequalified Applicants for the 2025 Licensing Round closes on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 16:30 hours (WAT) in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines,” the commission stated.
It advised interested stakeholders to obtain additional information through the official licensing portal.
The bid submission marks a critical stage in the licensing process, as investors compete for opportunities in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector amid government efforts to attract fresh investments and increase hydrocarbon production.
Under the two-stage process, companies that successfully passed the prequalification phase are required to submit their final technical and commercial proposals before the deadline.
Conducted under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the 2025 Licensing Round forms part of the Federal Government’s strategy to unlock dormant hydrocarbon assets, boost exploration activities and strengthen the nation’s reserve base.
Successful completion of the bidding stage will pave the way for the eventual award of oil and gas blocks to qualified applicants.
Launched in December 2025, the licensing round offered 50 oil and gas blocks, comprising 15 onshore blocks, 19 shallow-water blocks, 15 frontier blocks and one deep-water block. The exercise is expected to attract about $10 billion in investments.
The NUPRC estimates that the development of the assets could unlock approximately two billion barrels of oil over the next decade and add as much as 400,000 barrels of oil per day to Nigeria’s production capacity.
The commission concluded the prequalification stage in March and notified successful applicants to proceed to the bidding phase.
Meanwhile, preparations are already underway for the next licensing exercise. The Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, recently disclosed that the 2026 Licensing Round had received ministerial approval and is expected to commence no later than the third quarter of 2026.
She expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the ongoing 2025 exercise, noting that the commercial bidding phase would be completed before the launch of the next round.
The move reflects the regulator’s commitment to institutionalising annual licensing rounds in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, which seeks to ensure a transparent and competitive process for allocating petroleum assets.
