Nigeria has launched its 2025 oil and gas licensing round, opening 50 blocks to investors as the country moves to revive exploration activity and boost long-term production. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission confirmed the development, saying the round spans onshore, shallow-water, frontier and deep-water assets, according to a report by Reuters.
NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe said the portfolio includes 15 onshore blocks, 19 shallow-water blocks, 15 frontier assets and one deep-water block. He added that the exercise is designed to reposition Nigeria as a competitive exploration destination as global capital shifts towards more stable hydrocarbon jurisdictions, Reuters reported.
The government expects the licensing round to mobilise about 10 billion dollars in new investment and unlock as much as two billion barrels of recoverable crude if the blocks are fully developed. Komolafe said long-term production from the awarded assets could reach up to 400,000 barrels per day, according to industry details reported by Punch.
The bid round is being conducted under the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 and will prioritise both crude oil and natural gas opportunities. Market analysts noted that Nigeria aims to leverage previously undeveloped, fallow and frontier fields to attract fresh international and domestic participation, as highlighted by MarketScreener.
Sector observers say the 2025 round signals Nigeria’s most ambitious push in years to reverse underinvestment and strengthen upstream output, with regional energy outlets such as InAfrika confirming the sector’s growing interest in the offering.
