NUPRC 2026 Licensing Round: 40 Oil Blocks Open for Bids on November 20
Archive photograph of a Nigerian offshore oil production facility. Photo: Windfallengprojectsltd / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nigeria’s 2026 oil and gas licensing round opens its bid portal on 20 November, giving investors access to 40 blocks across land, shallow-water and deepwater areas.
The NUPRC 2026 licensing round portal opens on 20 November, the commission’s chief executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, announced at the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi. The offer covers 40 oil and gas blocks and targets companies with the technical capacity and financing to develop them, according to the NUPRC statement. Punch reported the same offer, while TheCable reported the portal date.
For prospective bidders, the date marks the start of access to the round’s portal and information. The commission’s October round announcement says the portal will carry block details, qualification requirements and bid procedures. Investors will use those materials to assess where they can compete and what each application requires.
The round arrives as Nigeria seeks new capital and production from its upstream sector. Eyesan told delegates that the country holds an estimated 215 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, while daily output stands at about seven billion cubic feet. Those figures frame the investment opportunity she presented at ADIPEC, alongside the commission’s aim to attract technically capable operators, the commission said.
What is in the NUPRC 2026 licensing round?
The 40 blocks span onshore areas, shallow waters and deepwater acreage, according to the NUPRC’s October announcement. The spread gives applicants several operating environments to evaluate, from land-based fields to offshore prospects that call for different equipment, funding and project timelines.
The commission says it will assess applicants on technical and financial competence. Its October statement also says the guidelines will explain the evaluation method and require disclosure of beneficial ownership. That information will help bidders understand how the commission will compare offers and who ultimately stands behind each company.
The portal opening is an early milestone in the bid process. The NUPRC’s announcement gives 20 November as the date it opens; companies should consult the published guidelines and portal for the round’s detailed qualification steps, block data and submission timetable. TheCable’s report and a Punch report also confirm the announcement.
How did Nigeria’s 2025 licensing round perform?
Nigeria’s 2025 licensing round gives companies a recent example of the competition. NUPRC’s conference remarks said 143 companies submitted 200 bids covering 37 of the 50 blocks on offer. The commission later announced that 31 companies emerged as successful bidders for 37 blocks, according to its licensing results. Those figures show that bid submissions and successful awards are separate stages; 13 of the 50 blocks attracted no bids.
The 2026 round offers 40 blocks, ten fewer than the 50 on offer in 2025. The commission has described the current exercise as a fresh opportunity for investment and production growth; the earlier results also show why bidders will need to match each application with the technical and financial requirements.
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Why is NUPRC seeking new investors?
Eyesan used her ADIPEC address to pitch Nigeria’s reserves and production potential to international energy companies. The NUPRC’s statement on her remarks says she linked the licensing round to the country’s effort to attract investment and bring more upstream assets into development. The commission has also said the process will reward technical and financial capability.
New field development can take years and requires substantial capital, specialist staff and equipment. The block data and guidelines will therefore matter to companies weighing exploration costs, infrastructure needs and the time required to bring production online. For Nigeria, successful bids can add operators and investment to the upstream market; actual output depends on each project’s development and operating performance.
What should prospective bidders do next?
Companies interested in the round can use the 20 November portal opening to review the available acreage and official application materials. The NUPRC’s launch statement says the guidelines will set out the evaluation methodology, qualification requirements and beneficial-ownership disclosures. Applicants can then compare those requirements with their technical resources, financing plans and operating experience.
International investors can also use the round to assess Nigeria’s onshore and offshore opportunities against the production and gas figures presented by Eyesan. The commission has framed the bid as a competitive process, so firms will need to follow the official submission instructions and deadlines on the portal as they are published.
NUPRC 2026 licensing round: frequently asked questions
When does the NUPRC 2026 licensing round portal open?
The portal opens on 20 November 2026, according to NUPRC chief executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan. The portal will provide the round’s bid information and application materials.
How many oil and gas blocks are on offer?
The round covers 40 blocks across onshore, shallow-water and deepwater areas. Applicants can review the individual block details through the commission’s portal.
Who can bid for the NUPRC blocks?
Companies with the technical capability and financial strength to develop the acreage can apply. The commission’s guidelines will explain the qualification criteria and evaluation method.
What will bidders need to disclose?
The NUPRC says its guidelines will require beneficial-ownership disclosure. Applicants should check the official materials for the full documentation and submission requirements.