The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced November 20, 2026, as the official opening date for its 2026 oil and gas licensing round, which will offer 40 oil and gas blocks to prospective investors.
The Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this while encouraging local and international investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Eyesan made the announcement during a roundtable discussion titled, ‘Energy Sovereignty in an Interconnected World: Aligning National Priorities, Markets and Global Security’, at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
She urged investors to consider Nigeria as a preferred investment destination, describing the country as a stable environment for energy investments despite growing tensions and uncertainties in the global energy market.
According to her, Nigeria is well-positioned to attract investments because of its abundant oil and gas resources, ongoing infrastructure development and efforts by the government to improve the business environment.
Eyesan also highlighted major gas infrastructure projects recently completed in the country, explaining that they would increase gas supply and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to serve both domestic and regional energy markets.
She further identified two major proposed gas transportation projects: the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.
According to the NUPRC chief executive, the projects are expected to create opportunities for Nigeria to supply gas to European markets while also meeting growing energy demands across Africa.
She said, “The stars are already aligned. For gas infrastructure, we just completed very major infrastructure projects that will unlock gas supply in the country and the sub-region.
“We talk about two major projects on the drawing board to move gas through the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline and Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline. Again, this gas will go somewhere in Europe and will also meet regional demands.
“So, Nigeria is positioned to meet not just domestic supply.”
The NUPRC boss noted that competition for investments in the global petroleum industry had continued to increase as more countries discovered oil and gas resources.
She explained that investors were becoming increasingly concerned about execution risks, operational costs, project delays and uncertainties when deciding where to commit their funds.
Eyesan said Nigeria had introduced several changes and improvements to address these concerns, reduce investment risks and create a more attractive environment for prospective investors.
She added that the commission was focused on ensuring that the country attracts the necessary capital to develop its vast petroleum resources and unlock their economic potential.
The 2026 licensing round is expected to provide fresh opportunities for investors to participate in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, boost exploration and production activities, and strengthen the country’s position in the global energy market.
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