The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced 31 companies as preferred winners of 37 oil and gas blocks under its licensing round. The commission also revealed that members of its evaluation team faced sustained threats and pressure before completing the exercise.
The commercial bid conference concluded an eight-month licensing process. Successful bidders must now pay their signature bonuses and meet all post-award requirements within 90 days or risk losing the blocks to reserve bidders.
Speaking after the commercial bid conference in Abuja, NUPRC Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said officials responsible for evaluating the bids received repeated threats throughout the process but remained committed to maintaining its integrity.
Eyesan said the intimidation continued until the commercial bid opening. She maintained that the licensing process remained credible and transparent despite attempts to undermine it.
She praised the evaluation committee for its commitment, noting that members had worked continuously since the process began. According to her, they resisted persistent threats and pressure and upheld a transparent process, demonstrating that Nigeria remains open to investment.
Eyesan added that President Bola Tinubu directed the commission to conduct a credible licensing process. She also thanked the evaluation team and observers from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative for supporting the exercise.
NUPRC said 31 companies emerged as successful bidders after 143 companies submitted nearly 200 bids for 37 oil and gas blocks from the 50 assets offered during the licensing round.
The successful companies include SSonic Petroleum Limited, CFP Pipeline and Flowlines, Dutchford E&P Limited, Attabanson Global Company Limited, Rosem Energy Limited, Pivot-GIS Limited, Network E&P, Asharami, LexOil, BVOF, Gupsco Energy Limited, Saratoga, Volante, Concept-Reel Petroleum Services Limited, Clinton Oil Field, Nuway Oaklane Limited and Ramec Italia.
Other successful bidders include Blueridge E&P, Up Energies Limited, AYM Shafa, Blackrock Holdings Limited, Funtay Integrated Business Limited, Riparian Development and Production Limited, Nikstallis, Stardeep Petroleum, Dakoda & U Limited, Southborne Oil and Gas Limited, Lanaka Petroleum, Highban Resources Limited and Eyre Energy Limited.
The commission clarified that the companies currently hold preferred bidder status and will receive Petroleum Prospecting Licences only after meeting all statutory requirements under the Petroleum Industry Act.
Eyesan urged the preferred bidders to begin the post-award process immediately. She said the commission will issue final awards only after the companies pay the required signature bonuses and obtain the Minister of Petroleum Resources’ approval in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
She warned that companies that fail to meet the post-award conditions within 90 days will lose their awards, allowing the commission to offer the blocks to reserve bidders.
NUPRC explained that it designed the commercial bid process to minimise human involvement by using an automated weighted scoring system. The commission completed technical evaluations before opening the commercial bids publicly, and no member of the evaluation team had prior access to the bids.
The commission said the automated system applies a weighted score of 40 per cent and calculates all results electronically without manual input. It added that the system strengthens the transparency, efficiency and integrity of the licensing process.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri said the Petroleum Industry Act ended the discretionary allocation of oil blocks in Nigeria. He noted that the law introduced a more transparent process for awarding licences.
Lokpobiri said the Petroleum Industry Act ensures fairness and credibility by preventing anyone from accessing commercial bids before they are officially opened. He also urged successful bidders to develop their assets rather than use the licences for speculation.
He recalled that some licence holders previously sought partners without developing their assets. He said the current licensing round should lead to field development and production.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo said the licensing round reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, competitiveness and credibility.
Ekpo added that the government remains committed to creating an environment that attracts investment, supports exploration and production, and unlocks the value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.
source: https://punchng.com/
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