NUPRC Awards 37 Oil Blocks, Officials Faced Repeated Threats to Compromise Transparent Process

• The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced 31 successful bidders for 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 Licensing Round, revealing that officials overseeing the exercise faced repeated threats but refused to compromise the transparency of the process.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced 31 companies as successful bidders for 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 Licensing Round, while revealing that officials involved in the evaluation process faced repeated threats and intimidation throughout the exercise.

The announcement was made on Tuesday after the commercial bid conference in Abuja, marking the conclusion of an eight-month licensing process. The successful firms are now required to pay their signature bonuses and meet all post-award conditions within 90 days or risk losing the assets to reserve bidders.

Speaking at the event, the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said members of the evaluation committee came under sustained pressure before the exercise was concluded but remained committed to ensuring a transparent process.

“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.”

Praising the evaluation team for resisting attempts to influence the process, she said:

“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.”

Eyesan said President Bola Tinubu had directed the commission to ensure a credible licensing process and commended observers from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) for monitoring the exercise.

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 companies 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 explained that the companies have only emerged as preferred bidders and will receive Petroleum Prospecting Licences after fulfilling all statutory requirements under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Eyesan urged the successful bidders 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 failure to meet the required conditions within the stipulated 90-day period would invalidate the awards and allow the commission to invite reserve bidders.

The NUPRC also stated that the commercial bid process was fully automated to eliminate human interference.

“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 said.

Also speaking, the 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 urged successful bidders to develop the assets rather than use the licences for speculation.

“In the past, I have seen people go round conferences across the world carrying licences and looking for partners who never came. Those days must be over. The licences issued today must translate into actual field development and production.”

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, added that the licensing round reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, competitiveness and attracting greater investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“The Federal Government remains firmly committed to creating an enabling environment that attracts investment, accelerates exploration and production, and unlocks the full value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources,” he said.