Group Demands Probe of NUPRC’s 2025 Oil Licensing Bid Round

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the House of Representatives to order an independent investigation into the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) 2025 Oil Licensing Bid Round over allegations of irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.

The latest call follows an earlier report highlighting concerns raised by industry stakeholders over the transparency of the licensing process and allegations that aspects of the qualification and evaluation stages may have been compromised.

In a statement signed by Dele Olasile, Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry, the group urged the Presidency, the National Assembly and relevant oversight institutions to commission a comprehensive forensic audit of the bid round to determine whether the exercise complied with the Commission’s published guidelines.

According to the coalition, an independent investigation has become necessary to reassure investors and restore confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum licensing framework.

“Our concern is not only about the outcome of the licensing exercise but also about protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s regulatory institutions and ensuring that every participant is treated fairly under the published rules,” the statement said.

The coalition urged the House of Representatives, through its relevant committees, to investigate the conduct of the licensing round and determine whether all qualification and evaluation criteria were applied uniformly to participating companies.

The group also called on anti-corruption and oversight agencies to independently examine the issues raised by industry participants and make their findings public.

As reported earlier, some stakeholders had alleged irregularities in the administration of the bid round and questioned aspects of the qualification and evaluation process. They also requested greater transparency regarding the application of mandatory prequalification requirements and the methodology used in assessing bids.

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The stakeholders further called for investigators to examine the roles of Olalekan Abiola and Meyiwa Eyesan involved in the administration of the licensing exercise. The allegations referenced specific officials of the Commission. However, the allegations remain unverified, and no findings of wrongdoing have been made against any individual.

Industry analysts say the controversy comes at a critical period when Nigeria is seeking to attract significant upstream investment to boost crude oil production and improve government revenues.

According to the analysts, transparency and consistency in competitive licensing exercises are essential to maintaining investor confidence and ensuring that Nigeria remains an attractive destination for petroleum exploration and development.

They warned that prolonged uncertainty surrounding the licensing process could affect investor perception if the issues raised by stakeholders are not addressed transparently.

The coalition therefore urged the Federal Government to institute an independent forensic review of the licensing process and publish its findings in the interest of accountability and investor confidence.

When contacted on the allegations contained in the stakeholders’ submissions, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) told journalists that it would respond at a later date.