By Onu Okorie

Seplat Energy Plc has called for accelerated investment across Nigeria’s gas value chain, saying the country’s vast reserves will remain largely untapped unless production, processing, transportation and utilisation infrastructure are expanded.
The company said converting Nigeria’s gas resources into reliable energy would be critical to tackling energy poverty, strengthening energy security and driving industrialisation.
Speaking at the Gas Investment Forum (GIF) 2026 in Lagos, Seplat Energy Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Effiong Okon, represented by the company’s Director of Gas & New Energy, Mr Okechukwu Mba, said Nigeria had more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, but required sustained investment to unlock their economic value.
The conference was themed “Positioning Nigeria as Africa’s Global Gas Powerhouse.”
Okon said the urgency for investment was underscored by the scale of energy poverty across Africa, with about 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lacking access to electricity.
“Gas reserves in the ground do not power homes or factories. Gas creates value only when it is produced and reliably delivered to consumers,” he said.
He said Nigeria must therefore move beyond discussions about its gas reserves and focus on building the infrastructure required to convert the resource into electricity, industrial output and jobs.
Gas-to-power investment
The Seplat chief executive commended Federal Government initiatives aimed at improving the investment climate, particularly efforts to address legacy debts in the gas-to-power value chain.
According to him, resolving the debts would improve the bankability of gas projects and encourage further private-sector investment.
He also described recent final investment decisions on major energy projects and the commencement of operations on the OB3 gas pipeline as important developments for the country’s gas industry.
Okon identified policy reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as important to creating a more transparent and investor-friendly environment.
He said institutions including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) were contributing to regulatory certainty and efforts to bridge infrastructure gaps.
He further argued that Nigeria’s location in the Gulf of Guinea gives it an advantage in supplying both African and international markets, including Europe, as global demand for reliable energy continues to evolve.
Seplat’s gas infrastructure
Okon outlined Seplat Energy’s investments in domestic gas infrastructure over the past decade, including the 375 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) Oben Gas Plant, 90 MMscfd Sapele Gas Plant and 300 MMscfd ANOH Gas Plant.
Together, he said, the facilities had strengthened the company’s position as a major supplier of gas to Nigeria’s domestic market.
Seplat currently supplies gas directly to six power stations while supporting industrial customers through its gas distribution networks.
The ANOH Gas Plant also supplies gas to fertiliser manufacturers, linking the company’s gas investments to the country’s food security objectives.
Okon said the company’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore and offshore assets had further increased domestic supplies of butane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
He added that ongoing investments in compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure were expanding access to cleaner and more affordable energy for consumers outside existing pipeline networks.
“Together, these investments demonstrate Seplat Energy’s commitment to supporting government efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security and accelerate gas-led economic growth,” he said.
From gas to electrons
On environmental sustainability, Okon said Seplat had ended routine gas flaring across its onshore operations at the end of 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in operational emissions intensity.
He urged government, investors, financial institutions and industry operators to deepen collaboration to unlock projects capable of converting Nigeria’s gas resources into electricity and industrial output.
“Nigerians cannot wait any longer. We must move from discussions to implementation and create the partnerships and investments necessary to fully realise the promise of our gas resources,” he said.
The Gas Investment Forum brings together policymakers, regulators, investors and industry stakeholders to examine opportunities for accelerating gas development and strengthening Nigeria’s position in regional and global energy markets.