Seplat Energy Plc, Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy company, has acknowledged the rising contribution of indigenous capacity and innovation to the growth of the energy sector.
The company, which participated in the 13th Annual BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeriain Lagos, also reinforced its commitment to responsible leadership and sector transformation through active participation.
The CEO Forum, with the theme, “Nigeria: From Reform to Recovery,” brought together senior government officials, investors, corporate leaders and experts to discuss Nigeria’s ongoing reforms, and share strategic insights for national renewal and sustainable economic growth.
Seplat Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roger Brown, represented by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Samson Ezugworie, was a panelist at one of the high-level sessions with the sub-theme, “Oil and Gas in Transition – Reforms, Recovery and Deals That Matter”.
He shared perspectives on Nigeria’s oil and gas transformation, the increasing role of indigenous companies, and how Seplat has been leveraging technology to enhance operations and build in-country capacity.
He said, “If you look at the trajectory, I would personally say that the outlook is very excellent, and we are well-positioned for a transformative oil and gas industry.
“Nigeria is rich in both oil and gas resources — with over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas — we are in the right place. We are also seeing international oil companies exiting the onshore and shallow water areas and transferring them to indigenous players.
“We have demonstrated both the capacity and financial strength to take on these assets and run with them. It’s like the stars are aligning — the outlook is even better than what we had before.”
He also pointed out the rise in rig activity as a strong indicator of sectoral growth. “Rig count in Nigeria was eight in 2021. Today, it stands at about 46. That tells you a lot about the level of activity, investor interest, and capital flowing back into the country. It is a strong signal of recovery and momentum in the sector,” he submitted.
As the country navigates the path from reform to recovery, Brown said, Seplat remained committed to delivering sustainable value to stakeholders, communities, and the broader economy.
Earlier, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher and CEO of BusinessDay Media Ltd, while welcoming guests, noted that the theme of this year’s CEO Forum — “Nigeria: From Reform to Recovery” – placed BusinessDay on a duty to report and to point the way to the future.
The forum featured speakers like Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group; Haresh Aswani of Tolaram Group; Kofo Akinkugbe of SecureID; Ainojie Irune, MD of Oando Energy Resources; Tony Attah, MD/CEO at Renaissance Africa Energy Company; and Gbite Falade, MD/CEO at Aradel Holdings Plc.
