The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the transparent process for the 2025 Oil Bid Round.
Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made this commitment on Wednesday, while speaking at a Pre-Bid Webinar organised by the Commission to provide authoritative guidance for companies and investors seeking to participate in Nigeria’s 2025 Licensing Round.
Recall that on December 1, 2025, the regulator launched Nigeria’s 2025 Licensing Round, which offers 50 oil and gas blocks across frontier, onshore, shallow water, and deepwater terrains for potential investors.
Speaking, Mrs Eyesan said the process was not only about offering an acreage, but an opportunity to participate in a stable, rules-based system that is opening the door to genuine value creation.
She explained that the Licensing Round was an open call for committed partners, those ready to invest, bring technology and accelerate Nigeria’s assets from licence award to exploration, appraisal and ultimately, full production.
While stating that the process follows five steps: Registration, Pre-qualification, Data acquisition, Technical bid submission, and Evaluation and Commercial Bid Conference, the CEE noted that only candidates with high technical and financial credentials, professionalism, and credible plans would move forward.
According to her, winners are chosen through a transparent merit-based process. Adding that with the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, signature bonuses for 2025 Bid Round are now set within a value-range that reduces entry barriers and places greater weight on what truly matters.
These, according to her include, technical capabilities, credible programme, financial strength and ability to deliver production within the shortest possible time.
“This has been done to increase competitiveness and a response to capital mobility,” she added.
The NUPRC boss also submitted that the bid process would comply with the PIA 2021, and remain open to public scrutiny.
“Let me state clearly, that the bid process will comply with the PIA 2021, promote use of digital tools, for smooth data access and remain open to public, and international and institutional scrutiny, through partners like NEITI, and other oversight agencies. Indeed, transparency is an integral part of our process,” she said.
Eyesan said that since December 1, 2025, all licensing materials have been posted on the Commission’s portal, dedicated support channels created to enable prompt response to enquiries from applicants, noting that the pre-bid conference has provided an opportunity to clarify the requirements to promote a transparent, well informed participation process.
“To further strengthen the process, today’s Webinar, the first of its kind, aims to clarify bid requirements, and helps you participate effectively before the tender deadline as well. We also invite your questions and feedback to improve the licensing round process and outcomes.
“In closing, let me emphasize that the Nigerian 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise, it is a clear signal of a reimagined Upstream Sector anchored on the rule of law, driven by data, aligned with global investment realities, and focused on long term value creation,” she added.
