Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has formally kicked off activities for the 2025 oil and gas licensing round with the announcement of a pre-bid conference scheduled for January 14, 2026, in Lagos, signalling renewed upstream investment momentum.
In a statement signed by the Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the conference is slated for 9:00am at the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotels and Suites and will bring together prospective investors and industry stakeholders.
According to the NUPRC, the pre-bid conference is a statutory requirement under the Petroleum Industry Act and follows earlier notices published in both local and international newspapers.
“The focus areas of the upcoming pre-bid conference include the implementation timetable, bid package preparation, eligibility terms, as well as the assessment and winners’ determination procedure,” Eyesan stated.
She explained that the engagement is designed to provide clarity and transparency to bidders ahead of the competitive process.
“Detailed information on the licensing round guidelines, block descriptions and participation instructions are available on the Commission’s website,” the NUPRC boss said, urging interested participants to register through the dedicated portal.
Eyesan added that the Commission expects strong participation, noting that the licensing round forms part of efforts to deepen investment, strengthen regulatory certainty and unlock Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas potential.
“We look forward to your participation,” she said.
The 2025 licensing round is expected to attract both local and international investors, as Nigeria seeks to boost exploration activity, increase reserves and drive production growth under the current reform framework.
