Nineteen oil licences in Nigeria’s upstream sector are scheduled to expire in 2026, according to the latest concession report released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The August 2026 report lists 12 Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) and seven Oil Prospecting Licences (OPLs) with stated expiry dates falling within the year.
The affected assets are spread across different areas of Nigeria’s upstream industry, including onshore, continental shelf and offshore acreage. Some of the licences had already reached their stated expiry dates by the time the report was published, while others are due to expire later in the year.
Among the PPLs, PPL 220, held by Navante Exploration and Production Limited, is scheduled to expire on October 16. PPL 232, operated by Kizi Oil and Gas Services Limited, is due to expire on November 16, while PPL 235, held by Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, has a November 1 expiry date.
Other PPLs listed include PPL 223, PPL 251 and PPL 266. PPL 266, held by AOS Orchard Petroleum Development Limited, is scheduled to expire on November 21.
The report also records PPL 277, PPL 275 and PPL 254 as having expiry dates of February 14, 2026. Their inclusion does not necessarily mean the assets have been revoked, as the document does not provide a final regulatory decision on their status.
The OPL category includes OPL 228, operated by Sahara Upstream Production Nigeria Limited, which had a July 9 expiry date. OPL 276 is listed with an August 14 expiry date, while OPL 289, operated by Cleanwaters Consortium, is due to expire on September 9.
OPL 809 and OPL 810 both have June 14 expiry dates, while OPL 2010 is scheduled to expire on December 23. OPL 215, held by Noreast Petroleum Nigeria Limited, has a May 3 expiry date.
The situation comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to increase crude oil production, attract investment and ensure that oil assets are actively developed rather than left idle.
However, the expiry dates should not automatically be interpreted as the loss of the licences by their current holders. The NUPRC report indicates that some concessions are undergoing conversion or may qualify for an optional tenure extension.
Among the licences marked as undergoing conversion are PPL 219, held by Nuway Oaklane Limited; PPL 236, held by Emadeb Energy Services Limited; PPL 243, held by Waltersmith Petroman Limited; and PPL 258, held by Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.
Some OPLs, including OPL 228, OPL 809 and OPL 810, are also marked to indicate that processes relating to possible tenure extension or conversion are underway.
The regulatory position is important as the government continues to implement its “drill or drop” policy under the Petroleum Industry Act. The policy is designed to discourage operators from holding oil acreage without making sufficient investment in exploration and development.
NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, recently warned successful bidders in the 2025 commercial bid round that obtaining an oil licence would come with an obligation to develop the asset.
She said operators that fail to commence meaningful activity within the period stipulated by the law could have their assets reclaimed by the commission.
The regulator has also continued to release new acreage to investors. In July, NUPRC awarded 19 Petroleum Prospecting Licences to 12 successful companies from the 2024 Licensing Round and the 2022/2023 Mini Bid Round.
Most of the newly awarded licences have tenure periods extending to 2031, highlighting the ongoing turnover of upstream acreage as older concessions approach the end of their stated terms.
Energy expert and Professor Emeritus, Wumi Iledare, said renewal would generally depend on the level of exploration and development carried out by the licence holders.
He noted that companies seeking renewal must meet the conditions set by the regulator, adding that holders of expiring licences should engage the commission early.
The NUPRC has yet to disclose the final regulatory outcome for each of the 19 licences listed with 2026 expiry dates. Consequently, the report establishes the number of licences with stated expiry dates this year, but does not confirm that all 19 will be terminated.
A separate Petroleum Exploration Licence, PEL 1, held by TGS-Petrodata Offshore Services Limited, is also listed with a 2026 expiry date. The seismic and GravMag concession covers about 56,500 square kilometres in the deep offshore Niger Delta.
The NUPRC concession report shows that the immediate future of the affected assets will depend on whether their holders secure extensions, complete conversions or satisfy other regulatory requirements under Nigeria’s upstream petroleum framework.
