ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the commencement of the 2025 Licensing Round, effective December 1, 2025.
The 2025 Licensing Round is designed to unlock Nigeria’s undeveloped and fallow oil and gas fields, with particular emphasis on gas assets.
The initiative aims to accelerate upstream production and bring previously discovered but unexploited fields into commercial operation.
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Licensing rounds have been a central feature of Nigeria’s upstream sector for decades.
Major rounds were conducted in 2000, 2005, and 2007, while the 2010s saw smaller, targeted rounds for marginal fields and deepwater assets.
These exercises are intended to attract investors and stimulate production, although some blocks awarded in earlier rounds stalled due to technical, financial, or regulatory challenges.
The NUPRC is set to publish detailed guidelines ahead of the licensing round, including the list of blocks on offer, pre-qualification requirements, and submission timelines, to ensure transparency and clarity for all prospective investors.