Nigeria launched a new oil licensing round in December 2025, offering a total of 50 oil blocks for auction.
In late January 2026, the country’s upstream regulator announced a relaxation of the financial conditions for the bidding process.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has invited the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to apply for oil blocks under the ongoing 2025 licensing round.
The regulator disclosed the invitation on Friday, February 6, following a meeting in Abuja between NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan and NNPC Ltd executive Bayo Ojulari.
In a statement on its website, the NUPRC said its chief executive had “encouraged NNPC, as the national oil company, to participate in the ongoing 2025 licensing round” to “strengthen exploration activities.”
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The regulator emphasized that the bidding process is not limited to private Nigerian or international operators, noting that public companies, including NNPC Ltd, can also participate as long as applicants comply with the existing regulatory framework.
NNPC Ltd has not yet confirmed whether it will take part in the current round.
NNPC Ltd already conducts oil and gas exploration and production through its subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Company Limited (NEPL).
According to the group’s official website, NEPL manages upstream operations and oversees the company’s exploration and production interests.
This move comes as Nigerian authorities signal renewed efforts to boost oil exploration, particularly in the country’s northern regions.
As reported by Agence Ecofin, the government plans to intensify prospecting activities to increase Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources, following several exploration campaigns in the northern basin.
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Image Credit: Daily Champion
