The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, will on July 21, 2026 host 143 qualified companies for the commercial bidding of 50 oil and gas blocks.*
Of 286 companies that applied, 196 scaled the prequalification stage. The 143 firms that submitted 200 bids have been notified to attend the Commercial Bid Conference at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
NUPRC Head of Media, Eniola Akinkuotu, said attendance is strictly by invitation.
The blocks on offer cut across diverse terrains.
The Niger Delta Onshore (16), Niger Delta Shallow Water (18), Niger Delta Deep Offshore (1), Benin Basin Onshore (3), Anambra Basin Onshore (4), Chad Basin Onshore (4) and Benue Trough (4).
In line with the guidelines, the elements of bid parameters include: the signature bonus, the work programme commitment and commitment to performance security culminating in a weighted technical and commercial score which will determine a winning bid.
The 2025 Licensing Round was first announced on November 11, 2025 and advertised widely in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
The bid portal was launched on December 1, 2025 for Registration and a Pre-Bid Conference followed on January 14, 2026 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The Pre-Bid Conference served as an opportunity to educate registered bidders and other interested members of the public about the guidelines of the exercise.
The registration and submission for prequalification evaluation closed on February 27, 2026 while the prequalification stage was completed on March 16, 2026
