Nigeria targets share of Africa’s $50bn petroleum investment boom

…as Eyesan invites global investors to Nigeria’s 2025 licensing round

In an effort to attract its share of the $50billion investment opportunities in the Africa petroleum industry, the federal government has once again invited global investors to capitalise on opportunities in Nigeria’s 2025 licensing round, stating that the round is designed to unlock Nigeria’s upstream potential under a more predictable and investor-friendly regulatory framework

Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), who spoke at the 10th Anniversary of the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2026 on Tuesday, reiterated that recent reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 provide a predictable, transparent, and investor-friendly framework for upstream development.

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She explained that of the $520 billion projected in worldwide capital investment this year, Nigeria and other African countries expects to attract between $48 billion and $50 billion.

The NUPRC boss also added that Nigeria is leveraging the momentum of renewed global interest in Africa’s hydrocarbons to attract credible investors into its upstream sector.

“To facilitate resource access, Nigeria has launched the 2025 licensing round, offering 50 oil and gas blocks across various terrains.This initiative reflects a targeted approach to responsible resource development. We invite capable investors to participate and help realise Nigeria’s promising upstream potential.

“Of the $520 billion projected in worldwide capital investment this year, Africa expects to attract between $48 billion and $50 billion. over 8 percent of the total. This is a significant increase from previous years when it was below 4 percent,” Eyesan said.

She noted that Africa’s energy investment outlook has significantly improved over the past three years, with the continent now capturing a larger slice of global capital expenditure.

A major milestone in strengthening indigenous financing, according to Eyesan, is the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, which is headquartered in Nigeria.

“The creation of the Africa Energy Bank, proudly hosted in Nigeria, is a milestone. Unified support from stakeholders will be crucial to its success,” she said.

The NUPRC boss also highlighted the growing impact of regional cooperation, particularly in gas development, power infrastructure and regulatory alignment.

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“Beyond national efforts, regional cooperation is having a transformative effect,” she said, pointing to expanded gas and power infrastructure that is improving energy access, reliability and affordability across Africa.

She added that platforms such as the African Petroleum Regulators’ Forum (AFRIPERF) are strengthening Africa’s collective voice globally.