By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced January 14, 2026, for the pre-bid conference of the 2025 oil and gas licensing round.

The conference comes as the federal government intensifies efforts to attract fresh upstream investments.

In an announcement notice dated January 8, 2026, and signed by the commission’s chief executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the event will take place in Lagos.

The notice, published on the official X handle of the agency, said, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is proud to announce the 2025 licensing round pre-bid conference scheduled for 9 am on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.”

The pre-bid conference is a key milestone in the licensing round process and is expected to provide prospective investors with detailed guidance on the conduct of the bid exercise.

According to the organisation, discussions at the conference will focus on the implementation timetable for the licensing round, bid package preparation, eligibility requirements, as well as the assessment criteria and procedures for determining winning bidders.

The upstream regulator explained that the announcement followed an earlier notice published in both local and international newspapers, in compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“The focus areas of the upcoming pre-bid conference include the implementation timetable, bid package preparation, eligibility terms, and the assessment and winners’ determination procedure. Interested members of the public are urged to register for the pre-bid conference through the portal br2025.nuprc.gov.ng,” the notice stated.

It added that comprehensive information on the licensing round, including guidelines, block descriptions and participation instructions, is available on the commission’s website.

“Detailed information on the licensing round guidelines, block descriptions and participation instructions is also available on the website, nuprc.gov.ng. We look forward to your participation,” it concluded.

Recall that last year, the erstwhile Commission Chief Executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, announced that the 2025 oil block licensing bid round would commence on December 1.

The 2025 licensing round, expected to offer 50 blocks across multiple terrains, is part of a broader agenda to rebuild confidence in Africa’s largest oil producer, deepen indigenous participation, and reposition Nigeria as a competitive investment destination.

The licensing round comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to reverse years of declining upstream investment caused by regulatory uncertainty, oil theft and project delays.

Since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, the NUPRC has overseen multiple bid rounds aimed at improving transparency, competitiveness and investor confidence in the upstream sector.

Pre-bid conferences have become increasingly important under the PIA regime, as they provide clarity on fiscal terms, compliance obligations and the evaluation framework, helping to reduce disputes and post-award uncertainty.

The last licensing round conducted by the commission attracted a mix of indigenous and international players, with the regulator pledging to ensure a transparent and commercially competitive process.

The NUPRC said it looks forward to broad participation at the Lagos conference, signalling what could be another major test of investor appetite for Nigeria’s upstream assets.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, has wooed American investors, declaring that the country will focus on disciplined reforms and transparent markets  to restore investor confidence in the country.

Mr Cardoso disclosed this after leading Nigeria’s engagement with senior business leaders and global investors at the US-Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable in Washington, convened by the US Chamber of Commerce’s US–Africa Business Center.

According to him, Nigeria used the platform to send a clear message to international capital: the country is focused on macroeconomic stability, regulatory clarity, and private sector-led growth.

“With global capital cautious and highly selective, we presented Nigeria’s message clearly and practically: disciplined reform, transparent markets, and credible institutions,” the CBN Governor said.

He noted that discussions at the roundtable centred on stabilising the macroeconomic environment and strengthening the financial system to support sustainable business expansion.

“Our discussions focused on macroeconomic stabilisation, regulatory clarity, and fostering private sector-led growth, laying the groundwork for a deeper phase of US–Nigeria commercial engagement,” Mr Cardoso stated.

Looking ahead to 2026, the CBN chief outlined an ambitious reform agenda aimed at reinforcing Nigeria’s financial architecture and improving the operating environment for businesses and investors.

“We will continue to strengthen the banking system through rigorous supervision and sound governance,” he said, adding that the apex bank would also “refine our inflation-targeting framework to deliver durable price stability.”

Mr Cardoso disclosed plans to modernise Nigeria’s payments infrastructure to boost efficiency and financial inclusion, while also promoting responsible fintech innovation anchored on consumer protection and financial integrity.

He further revealed that the CBN would deploy data and artificial intelligence-enabled tools to enhance regulatory responsiveness and execution.

“We will continue to build institutional capacity within the Bank, leveraging data and AI-enabled tools to support faster, more responsive, and higher-quality execution,” he said.

The central banker stressed that sustained reform, rather than short-term measures, remains critical to unlocking long-term growth and investment.

“Reform is a process that rewards consistency and discipline. Our focus remains steady: to protect trust, sustain stability, and entrench the foundations for disciplined, lasting economic growth in Nigeria,” he added.

He noted that the engagements signalled growing international confidence in Nigeria’s reform trajectory, positioning the country for deeper commercial ties with the United States and renewed inflows of global capital in the year ahead.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Nigerians have been urged to invest more locally because the country has now become a compelling investment destination, where value is being created and discovered.

This is the view of President Bola Tinubu, who expressed confidence that 2026 would deliver even stronger returns as the impact of his administration’s economic reforms continues to materialise.

He was reacting to the historic N100 trillion market capitalisation mark of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited achieved on Monday, describing the feat as a powerful signal of renewed investor confidence and economic rejuvenation.

In a statement, the President said, “With Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100 trillion market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” noting that the All-Share Index (ASI) closed 2025 with a 51.19 epr cent return, up from 37.65 per cent in 2024, ranking among the strongest performances globally and outperforming major indices including the S&P 500, FTSE 100, and several emerging-market peers.

“Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be overlooked, it is now a compelling investment destination where value is being created and discovered,” he declared.

Mr Tinubu emphasised that robust stock market performance reflects broader economic health and rising investor confidence, highlighting several factors behind the market’s strong performance: impressive results across listed companies, a growing pipeline of new listings spanning energy, technology, telecommunications, and infrastructure, as well as broader macroeconomic improvements including easing inflation, a stabilising naira, rising foreign reserves, and expanding exports.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to building an inclusive, transparent, and high-growth economy, stressing that the N100 trillion milestone sends a powerful message to the global investment community.

“Nation-building is a process, not a destination. The N100 trillion market capitalisation is a signal to the world that the Nigerian economy is robust, productive, and open for business,” Mr Tinubn affirmed.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Emomotimi Agama, credited President Tinubu’s leadership for driving the market to historic heights.

“The N100 trillion milestone is a direct result of the administration’s decisive reforms and unwavering commitment to transparency and fiscal discipline.

“These policies have renewed investor trust and solidified the credibility of Nigeria’s capital market,” Mr Agama stated, reaffirming the agency’s alignment with the President’s economic vision, pledging to strengthen oversight, protect investors, and uphold governance standards to ensure sustained growth and resilience.

On his part, the chief executive of NGX Group Plc, Mr Temi Popoola, commended President Tinubu for providing the policy clarity and reform momentum that have bolstered investor confidence.

“This milestone underscores the success of ongoing reforms and the exchange’s commitment to market depth, transparency, and inclusive growth. The capital market has responded positively to improved macroeconomic coordination and clear reform direction, creating an enabling environment for sustainable investment. It validates our focus on market development, innovation, and creating an environment where both local and global investors can deploy capital with confidence,” Mr Popoola noted.

He added that NGX Group would continue collaborating with regulators and stakeholders to attract quality listings, deepen liquidity, and expand retail participation, reinforcing our position as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.