The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has declared 31 winners for 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 Licensing Round after completing the commercial bid conference in Abuja.
The exercise ended an eight-month licensing process with successful companies expected to pay their signature bonuses and meet all post-award conditions within 90 days, while those who fail to comply lose their allocations to reserve bidders.
NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan praised the evaluation team and revealed that officials resisted repeated threats throughout the licensing process.
Eyesan said unknown persons threatened the evaluation team until the eve of the commercial bid opening. Despite the pressure, the team completed its work without interference.
She said President Bola Tinubu directed the commission to conduct a transparent licensing round. She also thanked the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for monitoring the exercise.
The commission disclosed that 143 companies submitted about 200 bids for 37 oil and gas blocks from the 50 assets on offer.
Successful companies include SSonic Petroleum, CFP Pipeline and Flowlines, Dutchford E&P, Attabanson Global, Rosem Energy, Pivot-GIS and Network E&P. Others are Asharami, LexOil, BVOF, Gupsco Energy, Saratoga, Volante, Concept-Reel Petroleum Services, Clinton Oil Field, Nuway Oaklane and Ramec Italia.
Other winners include Blueridge E&P, Up Energies, AYM Shafa, Blackrock Holdings and Funtay Integrated Business. The list also includes Riparian Development and Production, Nikstallis, Stardeep Petroleum, Dakoda & U, Southborne Oil and Gas, Lanaka Petroleum, Highban Resources and Eyre Energy.
The commission described the firms as preferred bidders. They must meet all requirements under the Petroleum Industry Act before receiving Petroleum Prospecting Licences.
Eyesan urged the companies to begin the post-award process immediately. The commission will issue final awards after they pay the required signature bonuses. They must also secure approval from the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
She warned that companies that miss the 90-day deadline will lose their allocations. The commission will then invite reserve bidders to take over the affected assets.
The NUPRC said it used an automated weighted scoring system to assess all commercial bids. The digital system handled every calculation, reducing human interference and improving transparency.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Petroleum Industry Act ended the era of discretionary allocation of oil blocks in Nigeria.
He said the law guarantees fairness because no one can access commercial bids before officials open them publicly.
Lokpobiri also urged the successful companies to develop the oil blocks. He warned them against treating the licences as tools for attracting investors without carrying out exploration.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the licensing round reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency. He added that the process also promotes competitiveness.
Ekpo said the government remains committed to attracting investment, increasing oil and gas exploration, boosting production and unlocking the full value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.
