The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has fixed November 20, 2026, for the opening of its bidding portal for the 2026 oil and gas licensing round, which offers 40 blocks to prospective investors.
The Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this on Monday during a roundtable discussion at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi.
Eyesan urged local and international investors to take advantage of the licensing round, citing improvements in Nigeria’s investment climate, security and fiscal framework.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Energy Sovereignty in an Interconnected World: Aligning National Priorities, Markets and Global Security’, she said the commission had introduced incentives to help investors manage operational costs and reduce investment risks.
According to her, Nigeria has become more competitive following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021 and executive orders signed by President Bola Tinubu.
She added that the NUPRC had conducted at least four successful licensing rounds between 2021 and 2026, attracting additional investments into the country's upstream petroleum sector.
Eyesan also highlighted Nigeria's gas resources as an investment opportunity, noting that the country holds an estimated 215 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas reserves but produces barely seven billion cubic feet (bcf) daily.
She identified the proposed Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline and Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline as major projects capable of expanding gas supply to domestic, regional and international markets.
The NUPRC chief executive maintained that competition for upstream investment had intensified globally, stressing the need for Nigeria to address investors' concerns around project execution, costs, delays and regulatory uncertainty.
The 2026 licensing round, announced in October, offers 40 blocks across onshore, shallow-water and deepwater terrains as the Federal Government seeks to attract fresh capital into the country's oil and gas industry.