The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has declared Dutchford Exploration and Production Company Limited—owned by Olatimbo Ayinde, President Bola Tinubu’s paramour—as one of the winning bidders for the 37 oil and gas blocks under the 2025 licensing round.

Dutchford, headquartered in Lagos, was announced as one of the successful bidders alongside 31 oil firms at the commercial bid conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

One hundred and forty-three firms submitted 200 technical and commercial bids for 37 out of the 50 oil and gas blocks, while 13 blocks received no bids.

Dutchford E&P Limited, co-founded by Ms Ayinde, was awarded the Yorla South field—Petroleum Prospecting Licence 2A32 within OML 11—located in Rivers. The field was originally discovered in the 1970s by Chevron, formerly Gulf Oil.

“After a keenly contested bidding process, 31 companies have emerged winners of 37 oil and gas blocks at the 2025 Licensing Round, which was held at the Transcorp Event Centre in Abuja on July 21, 2026,” a statement by NUPRC said. “These blocks were drawn from diverse terrains including the Niger Delta Onshore (16), Niger Delta Shallow Water (18), Niger Delta Deep Offshore (1), Benin Basin Onshore (3), Anambra Basin Onshore (4), Chad Basin Onshore (4) and Benue Trough (4).”

NUPRC noted that the level of investor interest marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that frontier basins had attracted such interest.

Dutchford and other successful bidders must, however, meet requirements, including paying signature bonuses, first-year rent, obtaining approval of the petroleum minister, and developing the assets within 90 days or risk forfeiting the awards.

NUPRC chief executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said the requirements were in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Ms Eyesan congratulated the winners and thanked Mr Tinubu for supporting the NUPRC in delivering what she called a “seamless licensing round”.

Other companies that emerged winners include SSonic Petroleum Limited (PPL 2A29), CFP Pipeline and Flowlines (2A30), Attabanson Global Company Limited (2A33 and PPL 901) and Rosem Energy Limited (2A38).

Also, Pivot-GIS Limited (2A39), Network E&P (2A40), Asharami (2A41), LexOil (2A42), BVOF (2A43), Gupsco Energy Limited (2A44 and 2A51), Saratoga (2A45), Volante (2A46), Concept-Reel Petroleum Services Limited (2A47 and 2A55) and Clinton Oil Field (2A48 and 2A62).

Others are Nuway Oaklane Limited (2A49), Ramec (2A50), Italia (2A53), Blueridge E&P (2A54), Up Energies Limited (2A56), AYM Shafa (2A57), Blackrock Holdings Limited (2A58), Funtay Integrated Business Limited (2A59) and Riparian Development and Production Limited (2A60).

There were also Nikstallis (2A61 and PPL 900), Stardeep Petroleum (PPL 2010), Dakoda & U Limited (PPL308 and PPL 800), Southborne Oil and Gas Limited (PPL 902), Lanaka Petroleum (PPL 903), Highban Resources Limited (PPL 700), Eyre Energy Limited (PPL 801).

Ms Ayinde, a British-Nigerian oil businesswoman, on trial in the United Kingdom for cross-border criminal conspiracy and wields a strong influence in the Tinubu administration, including alleged attempts to control businesses at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited).

Top officials in Mr Tinubu’s government told Peoples Gazette that several appointees of the president go through her to actualise their policy or pecuniary agenda.

Meanwhile, two oil companies last year challenged the allocation of the Yorla South field at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

Hi Rev Oil Limited and Hi Rev Exploration and Production Ltd had sought an interim injunction to block the deputy petroleum resources minister (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, the attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the NUPRC from selling, assigning, or allocating the oil field.

Justice Emeka Nwite held that the suit was incompetent and dismissed it on April 20.

Dutchford has subsidiaries in Africa, Malaysia, the UK and the UAE through its foreign affiliate ventures.