Nigeria’s upcoming 2025 Licensing Round is already attracting early interest from international oil companies, fueled by renewed confidence in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and its commitment to transparency and regulatory clarity.

The French energy major TotalEnergies praised the NUPRC for conducting a “transparent and credible” 2024 mini-bid round, highlighting strong anticipation for the 2025 Licensing Round, scheduled to open on December 1, 2025.

The commendation followed a courtesy visit by a senior TotalEnergies delegation, led by the President of TotalEnergies Exploration & Production,
Nicolas Terraz, to NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe.

The meeting took place on Monday at the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja.

Terraz was joined by Mathieu Bouyer, Managing Director and CEO of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, along with other top executives.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NUPRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, said the visit highlighted TotalEnergies’ increasing confidence in Nigeria’s upstream regulatory environment.

NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to a predictable, investment-friendly regulatory framework, emphasizing that the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 has ended the period of uncertainty that previously hindered investor enthusiasm.

“Now, in Nigeria, we have a regulator that steps in to address the issues as an enabler,” he said.

Komolafe also commended TotalEnergies for its initiatives under the Obagi Host Communities Development Trust, describing them as a practical demonstration of the company’s alignment with the host community provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

He further encouraged the multinational to actively participate in the 2025 Licensing Round, noting that it has been structured to attract high-value investments, new entrants, and renewed exploration activities across both mature and frontier basins.

Meanwhile, Terraz praised the Commission for the transparency and credibility of the 2024 mini-bid round, saying its successful outcome had strengthened investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream regulatory framework.

He expressed optimism that TotalEnergies would benefit from the enhanced governance measures in place for the 2025 Licensing Round.

“Drawing from the 2024 bid round, the 2025 edition would be positive,” he said, noting that TotalEnergies was “optimistic about the new bid round.”

He also reaffirmed TotalEnergies’ long-term commitment to Nigeria, noting that the country remains a strategic hub in the firm’s global operations.

The 2025 Licensing Round will be a key test of Nigeria’s ability to reclaim its status as Africa’s leading exploration destination, amid growing competition from Namibia, Angola, and emerging West African frontiers.