The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has announced June 12, 2026, as the closing date for the submission of technical and commercial bids by prequalified participants in the ongoing 2025 Licensing Round.
The regulator made the announcement in a notice published on its official X account on Tuesday, urging all eligible applicants to adhere strictly to the timetable outlined in the licensing framework.
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According to the commission, submissions will officially close at 4:30 p.m. West Africa Time on Friday, June 12, marking a significant milestone in the licensing exercise.
“The NUPRC wishes to inform the public that the submission of Technical and Commercial Bids by Prequalified Applicants for the 2025 Licensing Round will close on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 16:30 hours (WAT), in accordance with the provisions of the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines,” the notice stated.
The commission encouraged interested stakeholders to obtain additional information through the official licensing portal.
The deadline marks the beginning of a crucial stage in the licensing process, as investors vie for opportunities in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry amid government efforts to attract fresh investment and expand crude oil and gas production.
Under the licensing framework, companies that successfully passed the prequalification phase are required to submit their final technical and commercial proposals before the deadline.
Conducted under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the 2025 Licensing Round forms part of the government’s broader agenda to unlock underutilised hydrocarbon assets, stimulate exploration activities and strengthen the nation’s reserves.
Completion of the bid submission process will pave the way for the eventual allocation of oil and gas blocks to successful investors.
Launched in December 2025, the licensing round offered 50 oil and gas assets, with authorities projecting investments of about $10 billion.
The available assets comprise 15 onshore blocks, 19 shallow-water blocks, 15 frontier exploration blocks and one deep-water block.
According to NUPRC projections, the exercise could unlock approximately two billion barrels of oil over the next decade and contribute an additional 400,000 barrels of daily production once the assets are fully developed.
The commission concluded the prequalification phase in March and confirmed that successful applicants had already been notified.
The latest development comes as preparations gather pace for another licensing exercise expected later in the year.
Recently, NUPRC Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed that the 2026 Licensing Round had received ministerial approval and would commence no later than the third quarter of 2026.
The commission said groundwork for the next round is already in progress as the government seeks to maintain investor confidence and sustain momentum in the country’s oil and gas industry.
Eyesan expressed optimism about the progress made so far in the 2025 Licensing Round, noting that the completion of the commercial bidding phase would clear the path for the launch of the next exercise.
The development highlights the regulator’s commitment to implementing annual licensing rounds in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, which promotes a transparent, competitive and efficient process for the allocation of petroleum assets.
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