The Federal Government has fixed Friday, June 12, 2026, as the deadline for the submission of technical and commercial bids by prequalified applicants participating in Nigeria’s 2025 Licensing Round.   According to a notice issued by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and published on its official X account on Tuesday, all qualified bidders must submit their proposals by 4:30pm West Africa Time in line with the licensing guidelines. “The NUPRC hereby notifies the general public that submission of Technical and Commercial Bids by Prequalified Applicants for the 2025 Licensing Round closes on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 16:30 hours (WAT),” the commission stated. The regulator directed interested stakeholders to obtain additional information through the official licensing portal. The deadline marks a crucial stage in the licensing exercise as investors compete for access to oil and gas assets under the Federal Government’s drive to attract fresh capital into the upstream petroleum sector and increase hydrocarbon production. Conducted under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, the 2025 Licensing Round forms part of efforts to unlock dormant hydrocarbon resources, expand exploration activities and strengthen Nigeria’s reserves. The exercise, which opened in December 2025, offered 50 oil and gas blocks, comprising 15 onshore blocks, 19 shallow-water blocks, 15 frontier blocks and one deep-water block. Authorities estimate the programme could attract about $10 billion in investment. NUPRC projects that successful development of the assets could unlock approximately two billion barrels of oil over the next decade and add around 400,000 barrels of daily production capacity. The commission completed the prequalification phase in March and notified successful applicants ahead of the commercial bidding stage. Meanwhile, preparations are already underway for the 2026 Licensing Round. The commission’s chief executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, recently disclosed that ministerial approval had been secured and that the next licensing exercise would commence no later than the third quarter of 2026. Eyesan said progress on the ongoing 2025 round had been encouraging, adding that the commercial bid stage would be concluded before the launch of the 2026 exercise. The regulator said the move reflects its commitment to institutionalising annual licensing rounds in line with the Petroleum Industry Act’s transparent and competitive framework for allocating petroleum assets.

The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to impose a total ban on the importation of foreign textile materials as part of renewed efforts to revive the country’s struggling textile industry, according to a report by Channels Television.   The resolution followed a motion titled “urgent need to revive the textile industries in Nigeria with particular reference to the Kaduna-Kano Axis”, sponsored by Senator Sunday Katung (APC, Kaduna South) and co-sponsored by lawmakers across party lines. Lawmakers argued that restricting textile imports would help rebuild local manufacturing capacity, boost cotton production, and create jobs, especially in the Kaduna-Kano industrial corridor, once a major hub of Nigeria’s textile economy. Presenting the motion, Senator Katung recalled that Nigeria’s first major textile mill was established in Kaduna in 1957, with the sector later expanding to other regions and becoming a key driver of industrial growth and employment. He noted that by the late 1970s and 1980s, the country had around 167 textile mills employing over 500,000 workers, making it the second-largest employer after government institutions at the time. However, the industry has since declined sharply due to obsolete machinery, inadequate funding, erratic power supply and policy inconsistencies, leaving many factories abandoned. The Senate also urged increased funding for the Bank of Industry (BoI) to support struggling textile firms and called on the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade and Investment to prioritise cotton farming as a foundation for reviving the value chain. The upper chamber further recommended coordinated government policies covering cotton cultivation, manufacturing and distribution to restore competitiveness and reduce reliance on imported fabrics.