Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria opens 50 oil and gas blocks for bidding under the 2025 licensing round, warning that only firms with proven technical capacity and financial strength will qualify.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says the exercise is designed to eliminate speculative participation and reposition the country as a transparent destination for long-term upstream investment.
NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan made the disclosure on Wednesday during the 2025 licensing round pre-bid webinar, where the regulator outlines the bidding framework, evaluation criteria and commercial terms.
“This upstream sector is serious business,” Eyesan says. “It is for long-term investment and partnership, transparency and shared responsibility.”
Eyesan says the Commission has adopted a strictly merit-based process, placing technical competence, credible work programmes and financial capacity at the centre of bid evaluation.
With the approval of President Bola Tinubu, NUPRC reviews the commercial structure to lower entry barriers while discouraging unserious bidders. Signature bonuses are set between $3 million and $7 million, shifting focus away from aggressive cash bids.
“What truly matters is technical capability, credible work programmes and speed to production,” Eyesan says.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwafunbi Bello