FG Returns 13 Oil Blocks for 2025 Licensing Round

The Federal Government of Nigeria announced the return of 13 oil blocks to the licensing basket for the upcoming 2025 licensing round. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, disclosed this during a commercial bid conference in Abuja.

The 2025 licensing round will offer a total of 50 oil and gas blocks, with 37 bids received from prospective investors. The 13 blocks being returned are part of the 50-block offer, which includes assets across seven sedimentary basins, comprising 16 Niger Delta onshore blocks, 18 shallow water blocks, and 16 deep offshore blocks.

The bid portal will open on December 1, 2025, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for January 14, 2026, in Lagos. The submission deadline for pre-qualification is February 27, 2026, and the pre-qualification process will be completed by March 16, 2026.

The evaluation will consider technical and commercial scores, ensuring that awarded assets go to investors with the necessary financial strength and operational capacity.