NUPRC awards 37 oil blocks, warns winners against delays

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has declared 31 companies as preferred winners of 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 Licensing Round, warning successful bidders to complete all post-award requirements within 90 days or risk forfeiting the assets.

The announcement was made on Tuesday at the conclusion of the commercial bid conference in Abuja, bringing to an end an eight-month licensing process.

Speaking after the exercise, the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed that members of the evaluation committee were subjected to repeated threats and intimidation throughout the licensing process.

She said the pressure continued until the eve of the commercial bid opening but stressed that the evaluation team remained committed to ensuring a transparent and credible exercise.

“It has been a journey… If you have been told anything contrary to the fact that this process was going to be credible and transparent, do not believe it,” Mrs Eyesan said.

Commending the evaluation team, she added:

“The evaluators have worked tirelessly since June 12. They have been inundated with calls and with threats, serious threats, but they stood their ground. Up until yesterday, we were still threatened, but we stood our ground to say that the times have changed. Nigeria is really open for business.”

Mrs Eyesan also said President Bola Tinubu directed the commission to ensure transparency throughout the licensing process and thanked the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for monitoring the exercise.

31 firms emerge winners

According to the commission, 143 companies submitted about 200 bids for 37 oil and gas blocks out of the 50 assets offered during the licensing round.

The successful firms include SSonic Petroleum Limited, CFP Pipeline and Flowlines, Dutchford E&P Limited, Attabanson Global Company Limited, Rosem Energy Limited, Pivot-GIS Limited, Network E&P, Asharami, LexOil, BVOF, Gupsco Energy Limited, Saratoga, Volante, Concept-Reel Petroleum Services Limited, Clinton Oil Field, Nuway Oaklane Limited, Ramec Italia, Blueridge E&P, Up Energies Limited, AYM Shafa, Blackrock Holdings Limited, Funtay Integrated Business Limited, Riparian Development and Production Limited, Nikstallis, Stardeep Petroleum, Dakoda & U Limited, Southborne Oil and Gas Limited, Lanaka Petroleum, Highban Resources Limited and Eyre Energy Limited.

The commission clarified that the companies have only emerged as preferred bidders and will receive Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) only after meeting all statutory requirements under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

90-day deadline

Mrs Eyesan urged the successful firms to begin the post-award process immediately.

“These firms will only be presented final awards after the payment of the appropriate signature bonus and the approval of the Minister of Petroleum Resources in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.”

She warned that any company that fails to fulfil the required conditions within 90 days would lose its allocation, allowing the commission to invite reserve bidders.

Automated bid process

The NUPRC explained that the commercial bid process relied on an automated weighted scoring system designed to eliminate human interference.

According to the commission, technical evaluations were completed before commercial bids were opened publicly, while no member of the evaluation team had prior access to the bids.

“The weighted score is 40 per cent. All these things are automated. The computer calculates everything. Nobody is using a pen to write any figures. This demonstrates the transparent, efficient and robust process built into this licensing round,” the commission stated.

Ministers hail reforms

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Petroleum Industry Act had ended the era of discretionary allocation of oil blocks.

“The PIA, unfortunately for some people, has prevented discretionary allocation of oil blocks,” he said.

Lokpobiri also cautioned successful bidders against treating oil licences as speculative assets.

“The licences issued today must translate into actual field development and production,” he said.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the licensing round as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, competitiveness and investor confidence.

He said the government remained committed to creating an enabling environment that would attract investment, increase exploration and production, and unlock the full value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.