The notification, which was conveyed to the successful applicants yesterday, is in line with the 2025 Licensing Round Guidelines.
In a statement signed by NUPRC’s Head, Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, the Commission pre-qualified applicants will from today be permitted to lease data in preparation for the technical and commercial bid submission.
“With the pre-qualification stage now successfully completed, the Commission will from today, March 17, 2026, permit successful applicants to lease data in preparation for the technical and commercial bid submissions.
“Please note, pre-qualified applicants are mandated to lease data only from the two data sources (as applicable) and upload evidence of payment as a pre-requisite to the submission of bids,” the statement from NUPRC read.
It further directed successful applicants to visit the licensing round portal: https://br2025.nuprc.gov.ng/ for further details.
The notification of successful pre-qualified applicants marks the conclusion of the first phase of the bid round process which is expected to last for approximately six months. The NUPRC lowered entry barriers, with signature bonuses ranging from $3 million to $7 million.
Recall that on December 1, 2025, the NUPRC opened bid for 50 oil blocks in the bid round, as part of efforts to attract $10 billion in investment and increase national reserves, these 50 blocks are located across various terrains.
A breakdown of the 50 blocks include: 15 Onshore blocks; 19 Shallow water blocks; 15 Frontier assets, and one deepwater block.