FG Sets June 12 Deadline for Oil Bids in 2025 Licensing Round as Nigeria Pushes Upstream Investment
The Federal Government has set Friday, June 12, 2026, as the final deadline for the submission of technical and commercial bids in the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Oil Licensing Round. The directive, issued through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), signals a crucial phase in Nigeria’s push to unlock fresh investments in the upstream oil and gas sector.
According to the commission, all prequalified applicants must submit their bids by 16:30 hours (WAT), in strict compliance with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines. The announcement, shared via the regulator’s official X handle, stressed that no extensions would be granted, urging participants to adhere strictly to the timeline. Interested stakeholders were also directed to the official portal, br2025.nuprc.gov.ng, for additional information.
The 2025 Licensing Round, conducted under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is designed to attract global investors and revive dormant hydrocarbon assets across the country. The process, which began with prequalification earlier in the year, now moves into its competitive bidding stage where shortlisted firms will submit final technical and commercial proposals.
Officials say the round includes 50 oil and gas blocks comprising onshore, shallow-water, frontier, and deep-water assets, with an estimated investment potential of about $10 billion. If fully developed, the blocks could unlock up to 2 billion barrels of oil reserves and boost national production by as much as 400,000 barrels per day over the next decade.
Meanwhile, the NUPRC has confirmed that preparations are already underway for a 2026 Licensing Round, reinforcing the government’s plan to institutionalize annual bid exercises under the PIA framework. The regulator says the move is aimed at sustaining investor confidence, improving transparency, and accelerating Nigeria’s long-term energy growth strategy.
source: punch