By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reinforced its stance on quality over quantity in the ongoing 2025 oil and gas licensing round, declaring that only bidders with solid technical expertise and strong financial capacity will advance in the process.

The Commission’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made this clarification during the 2025 licensing round pre-bid webinar held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as interest grows around the 50 oil and gas blocks currently on offer.

Eyesan explained that the licensing exercise follows a clearly defined five-step process: registration and pre-qualification, data acquisition, technical bid submission, evaluation, and a commercial bid conference.

“Only candidates with strong technical and financial credentials, professionalism, and credible development plans will move forward,” she said, noting that winners would be selected through a transparent, merit-based process.

She revealed that, with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signature bonuses for the 2025 licensing round have been structured within a value range aimed at lowering entry barriers for investors. According to her, the new approach shifts emphasis from upfront payments to critical success factors such as technical capability, credible work programmes, financial strength, and the ability to deliver production in the shortest possible time.

“This adjustment is designed to enhance competitiveness and respond to the realities of capital mobility,” Eyesan stated.

Describing the exercise as an open call to serious and committed investors, the NUPRC boss said Nigeria is seeking partners willing to deploy capital, apply technical excellence, and fast-track assets from licence award through exploration and appraisal to full-scale production.

She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparency, stressing that Nigeria is positioning itself as an attractive destination for investment and advanced technological deployment in hydrocarbon recovery.

“In this licensing round, 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria are available, giving investors access to the country’s key basins and opportunities for long-term value creation,” she added.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eyesan further assured stakeholders that the bidding process would strictly comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). She said the process would leverage digital tools for seamless data access and remain open to public and institutional scrutiny through the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and other oversight bodies.

“The Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise,” Eyesan said. “It is a clear signal of a reimagined upstream sector—anchored in the rule of law, driven by data, aligned with global investment realities, and focused on long-term value creation.”

During the webinar, NUPRC subject matter experts also guided prospective investors through the licensing guidelines, model contracts, bid parameters, and evaluation criteria, aimed at reducing uncertainty and reinforcing a transparent, predictable framework designed to inspire investor confidence.