Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is gearing up for a major boost as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the green light for the commencement of the 2025 Licensing Round, scheduled to officially begin on December 1, 2025. This initiative marks another strategic step toward revitalizing the country’s upstream petroleum industry, attracting fresh investments, and unlocking idle energy resources.
This announcement was made on Tuesday 11th of November 2025, by the Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the NUPRC, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe at the NUPRC’s Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum in London.
Overview of the 2025 Licensing Round
A notable highlight of the 2025 Licensing Round is the strong emphasis on gas-bearing fields. As global energy systems shift and Nigeria pursues a gas-driven industrial strategy, prioritizing natural gas development will support electricity generation, manufacturing, domestic gas supply, and export opportunities.
The licensing exercise will be conducted under the guidelines of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which aims to ensure openness, fairness, and ease of participation.
Read: NCEC Certificate Registration
BENEFIT IMPACTS OF THE NEW APPROVED OIL AND GAS LICENSENCING
The 2025 Licensing Round holds significant potential for the nation:
- Boosts Domestic Oil and Gas Output through new exploration and production activities.
- Reactivates Idle and Abandoned Fields, creating economic opportunities and reducing resource wastage.
- Encourages Investment Confidence, especially at a time when Nigeria needs to strengthen revenue inflows.
- Supports Gas Development, a key component of Nigeria’s energy transition and industrial growth.
- Enhances Technological Advancement through the participation of global energy companies.
With several field development plans already approved earlier in the year and drilling activities on the rise, this licensing round builds on existing momentum within the upstream sector.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
The NUPRC is managing the process and the bid portal will open to prospective investors on December 1, 2025.
- Official Information: Detailed guidelines, including the list of available blocks, qualification criteria, and submission timelines, will be published on the official NUPRC website, where the bid portal will also be hosted. You can access official updates via the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission website.
The bid process will run in two major phases:
- Target Audience: The round aims to attract a wide range of investors, from Local like your company and international oil companies like TotalEnergies (which has already signaled strong interest) to other global exploration and production firms.
- Process: The process will involve both technical and commercial phases, with a clear and fair evaluation to determine the winners.
This move is a core part of President Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to reform the energy sector and drive economic growth through increased oil and gas production.
Expect more updates on this