The Energy Governance Alliance, EGA, has backed the opening of the 2025 oil licensing round by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC
EGA described the initiative as a major confidence boost for investors and a clear indication of Nigeria’s renewed competitiveness in the global energy market.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the EGA’s Executive Director, Dr Kelvin Sotonye William, said the licensing round, slated for December, is one of the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, since its enactment.
He noted that the move underscores President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning the oil and gas industry for sustainable growth and long-term investment.
“The NUPRC has taken a decisive step that goes beyond opening new oil blocks; it is opening a new chapter of credibility and investor confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry,” Dr William said.
“By anchoring this process on transparency, data integrity, and predictable regulation, the Commission is sending a message to the world that Nigeria’s upstream sector is once again open for fair and profitable investment.”
According to the EGA, the London launch of the licensing round before a global audience of oil executives, investors, and financiers was both “strategic and symbolic”, positioning Nigeria as a serious contender for international capital in an era of energy transition.
“By meeting investors where they are and presenting a transparent, reform-driven investment case, the NUPRC is rebuilding trust that was lost over decades of opacity and policy inconsistency,” the statement added.
The alliance also highlighted the Commission’s recent moves, including the approval of 46 field development plans in 2025, an active rig count above 60, and crude oil output reaching 1.83 million barrels per day.
“These numbers prove that Nigeria’s upstream recovery is real and that the reforms are working. When regulatory clarity meets investor confidence, capital follows,” Dr William said.
He urged the federal government to sustain its support for the NUPRC through consistent policies, institutional capacity building, and stakeholder engagement.
“With this licensing round, Nigeria can show that transparency and profitability are not mutually exclusive. If the momentum continues, the country can surpass two million barrels per day and move closer to the $1 trillion GDP vision,” he concluded.
DAILY POST reports that NUPRC announced December 1, 2025, as the date for its next oil block licensing auction.
