Seplat CEO Urges Nigeria to Take Charge of Global Energy Security
admin 
Effiong Okon, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, has urged stakeholders to foster deeper collaboration, boost investments, and accelerate gas projects to position Nigeria as a dependable global energy provider.
Okon made this call during his keynote address at the 49th Nigerian Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2026), hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, “Thriving in the Evolving Global Energy Landscape: Collaborative Growth and Resilience,” Okon emphasized that stable and affordable energy is the cornerstone of economic growth and sustainable development. He noted that ongoing geopolitical tensions, such as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, have intensified the global focus on energy security. This shift, he explained, presents a prime opportunity for Nigeria to step up.
“The world is looking for reliable energy suppliers during times of global stress,” Okon remarked. “This is Nigeria’s moment to lead by improving operational uptime, securing supply routes, expanding gas infrastructure, and delivering more products to the market.”
Okon proposed an energy transition strategy centered on “energy addition” rather than subtraction. He argued that Nigeria must expand its energy mix by increasing electricity generation, natural gas utilization, responsible oil production, and commercially viable renewable energy.
He highlighted natural gas as the driver of Nigeria’s industrialization, citing its potential to fuel power plants, petrochemical and fertilizer industries, data centers, compressed natural gas (CNG) systems, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cleaner cooking. He added that Africa’s energy wealth can only generate prosperity if backed by strategic investments in infrastructure, industrialization, and job creation.
Sharing Seplat Energy’s recent achievements, Okon revealed that the company’s average working interest production reached 131,506 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in 2025—a 148% increase from the previous year. This growth was supported by the restoration of 49 idle offshore wells, which added 48,600 boepd to gross production capacity.
Through its Oben, Sapele, and ANOH gas plants, Seplat currently provides up to 30% of the gas used for Nigeria’s grid-connected power generation. Based on strong first-half results, Okon expressed confidence that the company will exceed its 2025 performance in 2026.
He also reiterated Seplat’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) in achieving its 2030 targets of 3 million barrels of oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily.
To achieve these goals, Okon urged the industry to focus on infrastructure reliability, low-carbon operations, public-private partnerships, and talent development.
Marking his first official day as Seplat’s CEO, Okon expressed pride in addressing the SPE community, an organization he has been a part of since his university years. He concluded by reaffirming Seplat’s dedication to responsible oil production, gas-driven industrial growth, and impactful partnerships across Nigeria’s energy sector.
