A coalition of stakeholders in Nigeria's oil and gas industry has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an independent review of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) 2025 Licensing Round, citing concerns over the implementation of qualification requirements during the bidding process.
The group said the review is necessary to reinforce confidence in the integrity of Nigeria's upstream licensing framework and to assure investors that the published rules governing the exercise were applied fairly to all participants.
In a statement signed by Dele Olasile, Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Stakeholders in Nigeria's Oil and Gas Industry, the coalition said concerns had emerged from companies that participated in the licensing exercise, particularly over the mandatory purchase of proprietary geological and subsurface datasets required for qualification.
According to the coalition, both indigenous and international firms committed substantial financial resources to acquire the prescribed data packages after the Commission made compliance with the requirement a condition for participating in the bid round.
However, the group said it has received reports suggesting that some applicants may have progressed through stages of the licensing process without purchasing the same datasets, raising questions about whether the qualification requirements were applied consistently.
The coalition stressed that it was seeking clarification on the reports and urged the regulator to address the concerns in order to preserve confidence in the licensing process.
It noted that industry participants are particularly interested in understanding whether any waivers, exemptions or alternative arrangements were granted during the qualification stage and, if so, the basis upon which such decisions were made.
According to the coalition, clarity on the issue is important because any perception of inconsistent application of the rules could undermine investor confidence and discourage participation in future licensing exercises.
Quoting a senior executive of an indigenous exploration company, the statement said timely clarification would help sustain confidence in the ongoing reform of Nigeria's upstream petroleum sector.
"If there are any areas that need clarification, it is important that they are addressed promptly so confidence in the process can be maintained," the executive said.
The coalition therefore urged the Presidency to establish an independent panel to examine whether the 2025 Licensing Round was conducted strictly in accordance with the Commission's published guidelines.
It also appealed to relevant oversight institutions to review the exercise and provide necessary clarification where appropriate, arguing that an independent assessment would strengthen transparency and reinforce confidence in the country's upstream regulatory framework.
Industry observers noted that the concerns come at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to attract fresh investment into oil and gas exploration, increase crude production and improve the competitiveness of its upstream sector.
A petroleum industry consultant familiar with previous licensing exercises said the credibility of any bid round depends on the consistent application of published rules to every participant.
"The credibility of any licensing round depends on participants believing that the published rules are applied consistently and fairly," the consultant said.
The coalition maintained that a transparent review of the process would reassure both local and international investors that fairness, accountability and regulatory certainty remain central to the Federal Government's ongoing reforms in Nigeria's petroleum industry.