***Movement alleges possible favouritism and financial inducements in licensing process, demands independent probe into newly registered companies awarded oil blocks
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigeria Progressive Movement has accused the leadership of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), headed by Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, of presiding over an oil licensing process that raises serious questions about possible favouritism, transparency and the circumstances under which newly registered companies secured oil blocks.
The movement has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the relevant authorities to remove Eyesan from office pending an independent investigation into the 2025 oil licensing round, following findings published by NaijaonpointOnline concerning the corporate identities, incorporation dates and ownership structures of some successful bidders.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its President, Mr. James Collins, and Secretary, Mr. Benjamin Jacob, the movement said the reported award of oil blocks to companies incorporated only months before the announcement of the results demands a thorough examination of the selection process.
The movement also called for an investigation into allegations and suspicions that personal connections or financial inducements may have influenced the award of some oil blocks. It stressed, however, that these concerns must be established through documentary evidence and an independent investigation.
Newly Registered Companies Under Scrutiny
The NaijaonpointOnline investigation identified eight companies that were incorporated between approximately four and twenty-six months before the announcement of the licensing awards on July 21, 2026.
The companies include BVOF Energy Company Limited, Gupsco Energy Limited, Volonte Oil and Gas Limited, Saratoga Oil and Gas Limited, CFP Pipelines and Flowlines Company Limited, Southborne Oil and Gas Limited, Up Energies Limited and Nuway Oaklane Energy Limited.
The movement questioned how the companies demonstrated the technical expertise, financial capacity and operational preparedness required to participate successfully in a major upstream petroleum licensing exercise.
It said the commission should publish the relevant evaluation records and explain the criteria used to assess the bidders.
The movement further demanded that the identities of the companies’ ultimate beneficial owners be disclosed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
It argued that Nigerians deserve to know who controls the companies receiving valuable petroleum assets and whether all bidders were subjected to the same qualification standards.
Allegations of Favouritism and Financial Inducements
The Nigeria Progressive Movement said the circumstances surrounding the awards warrant an investigation into whether any successful bidder benefited from personal relationships with officials or other influential individuals.
The movement also called for a forensic examination of relevant financial transactions if credible evidence emerges suggesting that money or other benefits were offered or received to influence licensing decisions.
It insisted that the investigation should establish whether the process was conducted strictly on merit and in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act and applicable licensing regulations.
“No individual or company should receive preferential treatment in the allocation of Nigeria’s petroleum resources because of personal connections, influence or financial inducements,” the movement said in its statement.
The movement maintained that the allegation of possible financial inducements must be investigated rather than treated as an established fact without supporting evidence.
Five Companies Raise Further Questions
The investigation by NaijaonpointOnline also reported that five companies listed among the successful bidders could not be independently verified under their exact published names through the corporate search platforms examined.
They are Attabanson Global Company Limited, Concept-Reel Petroleum Services Limited, Blackrock Holdings Limited, Nikstallis and Eyre Energy Limited.
According to the publication, the five companies were collectively listed as winners of eight oil blocks.
The investigation identified differently named corporate entities in some cases but did not establish that those entities were identical to the companies listed by NUPRC.
The movement said these discrepancies should be resolved through official registration documents, company identification numbers, incorporation records and the commission’s bid-evaluation files.
It called on NUPRC to explain how it verified the legal identities of the companies before announcing them as successful bidders.
Pivot-GIS and Beneficial Ownership Transparency
The investigation also raised questions about Pivot-GIS Limited, reportedly awarded Block 2A39 with a signature bonus of $14.53 million.
Corporate information reviewed by Naijaonpointreportedly linked the company to members of the family of businessman Dr. Oba Otudeko.
The publication also identified differences between the results returned by the CAC public search portal and information available through alternative corporate lookup sources.
The movement called for official clarification of the company’s ownership structure and the due-diligence procedures applied to its bid.
It emphasised that a company’s ownership by a prominent businessperson or family does not itself establish wrongdoing. The central concern, it said, is whether all bidders met the same requirements and whether the licensing process was transparent and properly documented.
Nigeria Progressive Movement Demands Eyesan’s Removal
The movement said the seriousness of the questions raised by the investigation warrants an independent review of the licensing process and the responsibilities of the officials involved.
It called for Eyesan’s removal pending the outcome of the investigation, while urging the Federal Government to ensure that the process is conducted without political interference.
The movement acknowledged that the licensing exercise was conducted during the tenure of former NUPRC chief executive Gbenga Komolafe, while the final awards were announced under Eyesan’s leadership on July 21, 2026.
It therefore called on investigators to examine the respective roles of officials involved in the evaluation, approval and announcement of the successful bidders.
Six Demands to the Federal Government
The Nigeria Progressive Movement called for:
1. An independent investigation into the selection and award of oil blocks during the 2025 licensing round.
2. Publication of corporate records establishing the legal identities of all successful bidders.
3. Disclosure of beneficial ownership in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
4. Verification of technical and financial capacity for companies awarded oil blocks.
5. A forensic review of relevant financial transactions where evidence suggests possible inducements or improper payments.
6. Appropriate sanctions against any official or company found, following a credible investigation, to have violated the law.
The movement urged the Federal Government and relevant oversight institutions to take the allegations seriously and ensure that the public receives clear answers.
It also called on NUPRC and the affected companies to respond to the findings and provide supporting documentation to resolve the outstanding questions.
The movement stressed that the reported corporate discrepancies and recent incorporation dates do not, by themselves, prove that the awards were unlawful or that money changed hands. However, it maintained that any credible evidence of favouritism, corruption or breach of licensing rules must be investigated and addressed in accordance with the law.
“Nigeria’s oil blocks are national assets, not private rewards. Nigerians deserve a transparent licensing process, equal treatment for qualified bidders and accountability from every public official entrusted with protecting the nation’s resources,” the movement said.
The Nigeria Progressive Movement reaffirmed its demand for Eyesan’s removal pending an independent investigation and called for a comprehensive review of the licensing round in the public interest.
SIGNED:
Mr. James Collins
President
Nigeria Progressive Movement
Mr. Benjamin Jacob
Secretary
Nigeria Progressive Movement
Issued in Abuja, Nigeria.