The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the opening of the 2025 oil licensing round, a move that has been welcomed by the Energy Governance Alliance (EGA). The EGA has described the initiative as a major confidence boost for investors and a clear indication of Nigeria’s renewed competitiveness in the global energy market.
According to the EGA’s Executive Director, Dr. Kelvin Sotonye William, the licensing round is one of the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) since its enactment. The move is seen as a decisive step that goes beyond opening new oil blocks, but rather opens a new chapter of credibility and investor confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
The NUPRC has taken a strategic approach by launching the licensing round in London, presenting a transparent and reform-driven investment case to a global audience of oil executives, investors, and financiers. This move is seen as rebuilding trust that was lost over decades of opacity and policy inconsistency.
The Commission’s recent moves, including the approval of 46 field development plans in 2025, an active rig count above 60, and crude oil output reaching 1.83 million barrels per day, demonstrate that Nigeria’s upstream recovery is real and that the reforms are working. The EGA has urged the federal government to sustain its support for the NUPRC through consistent policies, institutional capacity building, and stakeholder engagement.
The licensing round, scheduled to take place on December 1, 2025, is expected to reignite investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. With transparency and regulatory clarity in place, the country can attract significant capital investment, potentially surpassing two million barrels per day and moving closer to the $1 trillion GDP vision.
The NUPRC’s efforts to reposition the oil and gas industry for sustainable growth and long-term investment have been commended by the EGA. The alliance believes that the Commission’s commitment to transparency, data integrity, and predictable regulation will send a positive message to the world, indicating that Nigeria’s upstream sector is once again open for fair and profitable investment.