The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced that prequalified companies participating in the 2025 oil and gas licensing round must submit their technical and commercial bids by June 12, 2026.

In a notice shared on its official social media platforms, the regulator stated that all bid submissions must be completed by 4:30 p.m. (WAT) on the deadline date, in accordance with the guidelines governing the licensing exercise.

The 2025 licensing round is part of Nigeria’s efforts to expand investment in the upstream petroleum sector by offering exploration and production opportunities to qualified investors through a competitive bidding process.

The exercise was launched in December 2025, with the commission making 50 oil and gas blocks available to prospective investors. The blocks include 15 onshore assets, 19 located in shallow waters, 15 frontier acreages, and one deepwater asset.

According to the NUPRC, the licensing programme is expected to run for about six months and follows a two-stage process comprising a qualification phase and a bidding phase before successful applicants are awarded the blocks.

The commission has repeatedly encouraged local and international investors to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the licensing round, which is expected to attract significant capital into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The government estimates that the exercise could generate up to $10 billion in investments, supporting exploration activities and boosting growth across the country’s energy sector.