The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, has assured investors that the 2025 oil and gas licensing round will be fully transparent and compliant with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Komolafe, who spoke while receiving executives of Italy’s Ludoil Energy at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, revealed that the bid portal will go live on the NUPRC website on December 1, 2025.
He explained that the licensing process will feature two phases — a technical evaluation stage, followed by a commercial phase for companies that meet the required criteria. “The licensing round will be transparent and fair in line with the provisions of the PIA, 2021. We do not discriminate. We invite all potential investors to participate,” Komolafe said.
Ludoil Energy’s Group Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Paolo Fedeli, expressed the company’s interest in the upcoming bid round, describing Nigeria as its next major growth target. “Nigeria is the largest producer in Africa. Your next round of licensing is an opportunity for us,” he said.
The visit underscores rising investor interest ahead of the 2025 licensing exercise, which the NUPRC aims to position as a model of openness and global competitiveness.
