The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has published detailed information on the concession status of 243 oil blocks across the country, refuting recent media reports suggesting the abandonment of valuable oil assets.
The commission described such claims as entirely misleading, emphasizing that the blocks in question are part of a strategic, regulated concession process under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
A recent newspaper report had alleged that Nigeria possesses 220 unlicensed oil blocks, presenting them as neglected opportunities in key basins. According to the publication, the deep offshore region alone accounts for 59 of these blocks, followed by 41 in the Benue Trough, 40 in the Chad Basin, and 28 in the Sokoto Basin.
The report also cited 13 unlicensed blocks in the Anambra Basin, 16 in the Bida Basin, and smaller numbers in the offshore Niger Delta, Benin Basin, and onshore Niger Delta.
The NUPRC, however, clarified that these blocks are not abandoned but are part of a structured licensing framework. Under Section 7(t) of the PIA 2021, the commission is mandated to conduct periodic bid rounds for the allocation of Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPL) and Petroleum Mining Leases (PML). The 220 blocks referenced in the report are, in fact, awaiting concession through this transparent and regulated process.
Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, stated that the misleading report stemmed from a misinterpretation of publicly available data on the commission’s website. He emphasized that the blocks are neither neglected nor idle but are being systematically prepared for competitive bidding in line with national energy development goals. The NUPRC assured stakeholders that the blocks will be awarded to qualified investors once all regulatory conditions are met.
In response to the misinformation, the commission urged media outlets to exercise greater diligence in reporting and to prioritize factual accuracy, particularly on matters affecting national economic interests.
It also encouraged the public and industry stakeholders to consult its official website for verified updates on oil block concessions and regulatory activities.
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