The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has confirmed that its 2026 oil and gas licensing round will begin by the 3rd quarter of 2026, after receiving approval from the Minister of Petroleum Resources. NUPRC CEO Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan announced the timeline while hosting a delegation from Meren Energy (formerly Africa Oil) at the commission’s Abuja headquarters.
Eyesan said the commission is pleased with progress on the ongoing 2025 licensing round, whose commercial bid phase is due in July; preparations for the 2026 round will follow. The 2025 exercise (launched under former CEO Gbenga Komolafe and effective from 1 December 2025) has included outreach to global investors and the completion of a pre-qualification stage. Since March 17, 2026, pre-qualified applicants have been allowed to lease geological and technical data for their technical and commercial bids, subject to using approved channels and providing payment evidence.
Eyesan linked growing participation in the 2025 round to rising investment, production improvements and reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. She reiterated that the President and Minister have approved the 2026 round and that the commission is finalizing plans to launch it by Q3 2026.
Meren Energy CEO Oliver Quinn said the sector reforms prompted the company to expand investments and pursue asset acquisitions in Nigeria, which remains the group’s principal African market. He highlighted Meren’s long-term presence on major fields (Agbami, Akpo, Egina), about $11 billion in capital invested and roughly $4 billion paid in taxes and royalties. Quinn noted the company’s efforts to deepen investment in existing assets to raise production and said Meren was the first firm to sell crude to the Dangote refinery, committing to meet its Domestic Crude Supply Obligation if commercial terms stay favourable.
