NUPRC gives ultimatum to 31 oil block winners to pay signature bonuses
Abuja, Aug. 2026 – The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has given ultimatum to the 31 companies that won 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 licensing round to pay their signature bonuses within the stipulated period.
The commission gave the directive in a notice to the affected companies at the weekend.
It said the failure of these companies to meet the ultimatum would lead to their losing the provisional awards.
NUPRC said it had to enforce compliance with the payment of signature bonuses after one month the provisional license were awarded to the successful bidders.
“Exactly a month ago, the NUPRC hosted the 2025 commercial bid conference in Abuja where 31 companies emerged winners of 37 oil and gas blocks.
“Having issued the winners with the provisional awards, compliance with the payment of signature bonuses has already begun.
“Winners who fail to pay signature bonuses within the stipulated time frame in line with the Petroleum Industry Act will forfeit their bid guarantee and lose their provisional awards to the reserve bidders,” it said.
