On 21 July 2026, Nigeria’s upstream petroleum regulator, the Nigerian National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), unveiled the 31 companies that emerged as winners of 37 oil and gas blocks after what observers described as a rigorous evaluation process ultimately determined through a computer-based bid evaluation system designed to eliminate human interference.
Yet, questions about transparency are inevitable in any licensing exercise involving strategic national assets. The true measure of transparency is not the absence of scrutiny, but the presence of clear rules, public disclosure, and a process that can withstand independent examination.
The journey began in 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, approved the 2025 Licensing Round. At a high-profile event in London attended by international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous operators, the Commission officially announced the exercise on 11 November 2025, and launched the registration portal, which opened on 1 December.
Beyond the announcement, the regulator took additional steps to comply with statutory requirements by publishing notices in national newspapers, including The Punch, as well as in a foreign newspaper, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines.
