Nigerian Petroleum Commission Promises Transparent 2025 Licensing Round Ahead of December 1 Opening
By: NaijaEnquirer Staff
Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector is set for a major milestone as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) prepares to launch its 2025 oil licensing round on December 1. The process aims to attract both local and international investors to develop untapped, gas-rich fields as part of Nigeria’s ongoing energy transformation agenda.
The Commission’s Chief Executive, Eng. Gbenga Komolafe, affirmed the government’s dedication to a transparent bidding process during a meeting with executives from Italian energy giant Ludoil Energy in Abuja. He confirmed that the bid portal will be activated on the official NUPRC website immediately after formal clearance from President Bola Tinubu.
Komolafe emphasized the integrity of the bidding exercise, stating that the 2025 round will adopt a two-stage process featuring an initial technical assessment followed by commercial evaluation for qualified applicants.
“The licensing round will be transparent and fair in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021,” Komolafe declared. “We do not discriminate. We invite all potential investors to participate.”
The launch comes at a defining moment for Nigeria’s energy sector. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 restructured Nigeria’s regulatory landscape, replacing the former Department of Petroleum Resources and establishing commercial frameworks that encourage investment. The reforms have opened the door to tax incentives for gas development, updated local content provisions, and strengthened Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” strategic roadmap.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, also endorsed the upcoming round while hosting the Ludoil delegation. He praised investor interest as evidence of a sector on the rise, anchored by credible regulation and improved commercial frameworks.
“Making our oil sector attractive to investors is a major measure in our ongoing transformation journey,” Lokpobiri stated. “Our doors remain open to collaboration that drives progress, innovation, and sustainable development.”
At the core of this licensing effort is a focus on gas-dominant and fallow assets. Nigeria’s goal is to unlock underdeveloped reserves, expand domestic gas supply, and drive cleaner energy adoption. Authorities are projecting up to one million barrels per day in incremental capacity, backed by increasing foreign interest, over $8 billion in new final investment decisions, and rising contributions from local operators such as Seplat and Oando.
Ludoil Energy expressed strong interest in participating in the round, highlighting Nigeria’s scale, resource endowment, and newly strengthened regulatory stability.
“We are seeing Nigeria as our next target for growth because Nigeria is the largest producer in Africa,” said Ludoil Energy Group Chief Technical Officer, Paolo Fedeli. “Your next round of licensing is an opportunity for us.”
Despite persistent challenges, including security threats, infrastructure constraints, and financing hurdles, confidence is building across the sector. With more digital oversight, clearer fiscal rules, and a governance approach increasingly shaped by investor needs, the upcoming licensing round could become a key catalyst for Nigeria’s production revival and long-term energy stability.
