The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission (NUPRC) has announced the concession status of 243 oil blocks, strongly countering recent allegations that some assets have been abandoned.
In a statement released yesterday, the NUPRC emphasized its commitment to transparency, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. A recent report suggested that Nigeria has 220 open oil blocks across both onshore and offshore basins, citing NUPRC data.
The report claimed that the deep offshore areas contain the most unlicensed blocks at 59, indicating a significant underutilisation of the nation’s energy resources in this capital-intensive region. It also mentioned that the Benue Trough has 41 open blocks, the Chad Basin 40, the Sokoto Basin 28, and the Bida Basin 16 unawarded blocks. Additionally, seven open blocks remain in the offshore Niger Delta, while Anambra Basin has 13, and both the Benin Basin and onshore Niger Delta have eight each.
However, the NUPRC clarified that these 220 blocks are not abandoned; they are simply awaiting concessions as per Section 7(t) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. This section empowers the commission to conduct regular licensing rounds and issue Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPL) and Petroleum Mining Leases (PMLs) to interested investors.
The commission assured that these blocks will be allocated to concessionaires once the necessary bid conditions are fulfilled. The Gbenga Komolafe-led regulator noted that the circulating reports regarding abandoned blocks stem from a misinterpretation of information available on its website.
In light of this, the NUPRC urges media outlets to exercise caution in their reporting and prioritise the national interest. The public is encouraged to visit the NUPRC website at https://www.nuprc.gov.ng/ for accurate updates on its activities.
