By Obinna Uballa
Nigeria will kick off its 2025 Oil and Gas Licensing Round on December 1, with a strong emphasis on unlocking underdeveloped gas assets to boost upstream production and expand the country’s energy supply base.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, announced the timeline on Tuesday at the Commission’s Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum in London.
A statement by the NUPRC Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, noted that the approval for the licensing round was granted by President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
“We are announcing that we are ready, following the approval of the Minister of Petroleum Resources in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, to commence the 2025 Licensing Round beginning from December 1, 2025,” Komolafe said.
The upcoming bid round is designed to attract fresh investments into Nigeria’s upstream sector, particularly to revive fallow and previously discovered fields that have remained undeveloped for years. The commission views the move as key to accelerating new production, improving energy supply security, and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global gas market.
Licensing rounds have historically played a central role in shaping Nigeria’s oil and gas landscape. While larger bid rounds were held in 2000, 2005 and 2007, more recent years have seen smaller, targeted exercises such as the marginal fields awards. However, delays, funding constraints and regulatory complexities have slowed development on several awarded assets.
To prevent similar setbacks, the Commission said it will soon release detailed bid guidelines, including block listings, pre-qualification criteria, timelines and evaluation parameters, to ensure transparency and clarity for prospective investors.
The NUPRC’s renewed emphasis on gas aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing shift toward a gas-led energy strategy, aimed at industrial growth, power generation, and energy transition.
