The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said the distribution of oil blocks during the 2024 license bidding period is transparent.
Naija News NUPRC’s report said that the winners of the 2024 Oil Block License Bid Award announced on December 18, 2024 did not bribe anyone.
In a statement signed on Monday Bashari Indukthe Commission called bribery a baseless and misleading.
The statement explained that the bidding process was transparent and the hearing was followed and broadcast live. NUPRC added that all stakeholders were involved in the bidding process.
“The selection process for the 2024 oil bid round is a comprehensive and inclusive activity involving a wide range of stakeholders such as International Petroleum Corporation (IOC), various local and international companies, Nigeria Excavation Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), relevant government agencies, civil society organizations, and national and international media representative bodies, including,” it read.
The statement stated that all stakeholders were carried with them at the hearing.
“These hearings promote a collaborative atmosphere, allow input from regulators and all parties, and oversee industry operations.
“Their participation is not limited to the final stage of the bid; it plays an integral role from the outset, helping to develop regulations and guiding the bidding process.
“This engagement and procedural rigor emphasizes the commitment to foster a level-competitive bidding environment in the Nigerian oil sector,” it said.
Therefore, NUPRC calls on the public to ignore allegations of bribery in the 2024 oil block licensing bid.
“Therefore, any allegations or hints about deputy or bribery are lacking in merit and are completely unfounded and just misleading. These claims do not originate from truth, and ignore the maintenance of strict standards throughout the selection process,” the committee added.
NUPRC warned:Especially those who lack substantive evidence dispersed the real progress made by the oil sector and promoted a culture of misinformation“.