The 2025 oil bid licensing round in Nigeria is set to begin on December 1, 2025, with the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) portal going live on the same day. Commission Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe assured that the process would be fully digitised, transparent, and in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, allowing investors to know immediately whether they have won bids.

The licensing round will follow a two-stage process: a technical evaluation followed by a commercial phase for successful applicants. Komolafe highlighted Nigeria’s advantages, including over 37 billion barrels of proven reserves, Africa’s largest crude output, and an 853km coastline enabling faster access to European markets.

During a visit by executives of Ludoil Energy of Italy, Komolafe invited all investors to participate, emphasizing that the current regulatory framework restores confidence and positions Nigeria as a top investment destination. Ludoil’s Paolo Fedeli confirmed the company’s interest in the 2025 round, viewing Nigeria as a key growth target in Africa.