By Ambrose Nnaji

Seplat Energy Plc has reaffirmed that oil and gas will remain integral to Nigeria’s energy mix for the foreseeable future, while emphasising the imperative for operators to run their businesses responsibly, efficiently and sustainably.

The company’s position was outlined by its Director, Gas & New Energy, Okechukwu Mba, who represented Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, at a high-level climate roundtable organised by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) in partnership with DEG, Germany’s development finance institution, and Africa Foresight Group (AFG), in Lagos.

Speaking at the forum, Mba said the central question confronting Nigeria’s energy sector is not the continued relevance of oil and gas, but how industry players manage their environmental, social and economic responsibilities.

“Oil and gas will remain an important part of Nigeria’s energy mix for some time. The real issue is not whether the industry should exist, but how operators conduct themselves responsibly,” he said.

He noted that responsible operations must go beyond rhetoric and be anchored on measurable actions such as improved efficiency, reduced emissions and credible offsetting strategies.

Mba explained that Seplat Energy has already translated this commitment into concrete outcomes. He disclosed that the company launched a comprehensive programme several years ago to eliminate routine gas flaring across its onshore assets, adding that all the projects required to achieve this objective had been completed and were currently at the commissioning stage.

“Very soon, we will be able to state clearly that routine flaring has ended in our onshore operations. This is a significant milestone that reflects our environmental stewardship, while continuing to deliver energy to the nation,” he said.

He further highlighted the company’s deployment of technology to improve operational efficiency, including real-time emissions monitoring across pipelines, valves, processing plants and other critical infrastructure. This, he said, is complemented by a robust asset integrity programme aimed at identifying and eliminating emissions sources.

Beyond operational controls, Mba said Seplat Energy is also pursuing nature-based solutions to offset emissions. In one of its host communities in Edo State, the company has launched an afforestation initiative committing to plant millions of trees over a five-year period, with the first phase already completed.

He also pointed to Seplat Energy’s investments in gas and LPG infrastructure as part of efforts to drive emissions reduction beyond its direct operations. According to him, expanded access to LPG helps reduce dependence on firewood, charcoal and other biomass fuels, particularly in peri-urban and rural communities.

Following the company’s offshore acquisition, Mba noted that LPG volumes previously exported are now being channelled into the domestic market, significantly improving availability, affordability and overall market quality.

On the broader energy transition, he underscored the critical role of financing, especially for gas and gas-to-power projects. He noted that while the national grid delivers only about five gigawatts of electricity, a much larger share of power consumption is met through self-generation using petrol and diesel generators, which have far higher emissions.

“If we replace these inefficient power sources with gas-powered solutions, we can achieve significant decarbonisation. However, without adequate financing, such projects will not materialise and the benefits will be lost,” he said.

The event also marked the launch of the NGX Net-Zero Programme (N-Zero), an initiative designed to support listed companies in defining credible net-zero pathways, strengthening climate-related disclosures and aligning with global investor expectations. The programme is projected to unlock between $2.5 billion and $3.1 billion in climate-linked capital for Nigerian companies.

Speaking at the launch, Group Chairman of NGX Group, Umaru Kwairanga, said Africa’s capital markets must play a leading role in advancing climate action and sustainable growth, adding that the N-Zero Programme would help companies move from ambition to measurable impact.

Also speaking, Group Managing Director of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, noted that climate risk has become a key factor in global valuation and capital allocation decisions, while Monika Beck, a member of the Management Board of DEG, said the partnership aligns with DEG’s strategy of mobilising private capital to accelerate climate action while delivering tangible development outcomes.

By Editor

Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive received a renewed push as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) called for stronger youth participation, citizen oversight, and transparency safeguards in the implementation of the country’s 2025 tax and revenue reforms.

Speaking in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NEITI, Musa Sarkin Adar, said Nigeria’s youth must be positioned at the heart of the fight against corruption and poor resource governance.

Delivering the address on behalf of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) and as Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), Sarkin Adar said corruption continues to undermine economic growth, distort extractive sector governance, and widen inequality across the country.

“The youth remain our greatest source of hope and strength. Their energy, innovation, and desire for a more just society place them at the centre of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and the future of integrity in the extractive industries and beyond”, he said.

He reaffirmed NEITI’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians not just as advocates for accountability but as active partners in shaping transparency, noting that informed and courageous citizens are essential to dismantling entrenched corruption.

As part of this commitment, Sarkin Adar said NEITI would continue to expand civic education, strengthen reporting mechanisms, support youth-led innovation, and create platforms for constructive engagement with students, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

A key focus of this year’s Anti-Corruption Day, he noted, was the link between tax transparency, trust, and accountability, particularly as Nigeria prepares to roll out far-reaching tax and revenue reforms in 2025.

Sarkin Adar disclosed that NEITI has concluded a policy-backed brief on the inclusive implementation of the new tax laws, offering a roadmap aligned with global standards of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in revenue administration.

According to him, the policy brief assesses the conformity of the legislative provisions with international best practices and recommends safeguards to protect the fiscal autonomy of states and local governments.

“We cannot afford to treat transparency as an afterthought. A robust tax reform without citizen oversight is simply centralisation under another name”, he warned.

He said NEITI stands ready to provide independent oversight, facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, and ensure accountability in the implementation of the reforms, particularly in the extractive sector where revenues remain critical to national and subnational finances.

Calling on government, industry players, civil society, and development partners to embrace the roadmap, Sarkin Adar stressed that the success of the 2025 tax reforms would depend on inclusive implementation and sustained public trust.

He added that the reforms must deliver inclusive growth, fiscal accountability, and sustainable prosperity across all levels of government, with special attention to the youth, whom he described as “Nigeria’s future.”

“As we mark International Anti-Corruption Day, we celebrate the courage, resilience, and integrity of Nigeria’s youth. Together, we can shape a future defined by honesty, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.

By Ambrose Nnaji

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has urged global energy leaders to embrace deeper collaboration to stabilise LNG supply, enhance affordability for emerging markets, and secure long-term energy expansion in an increasingly fragmented and uncertain world.

The company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Philip Mshelbila, made the call while speaking on the panel, “Energy Expansion in a Challenging Global Trade Environment,” at the World LNG Summit & Awards in Istanbul, Turkey.

Mshelbila warned that without coordinated action across the entire LNG value chain, the world risks deepening the energy divide, undermining energy security, and slowing progress toward a balanced, lower-carbon global energy mix.

According to him, the geopolitical tensions, unilateral national policies, and sanctions shaping today’s energy market require a new model of LNG contracting—one that extends beyond conventional price and volume terms.

“To safeguard global energy security from the risks of geopolitics and unilateral policies, LNG contracts must evolve from simply defining volume and price to actively managing sovereign risk through diversified supply sources, flexible delivery routes, and adaptive contract terms,” he stated.

Mshelbila emphasised that global energy expansion could stagnate unless structural hurdles around LNG supply, pricing, financing, and decarbonisation are urgently addressed. He said the current status quo poses serious risks, especially for developing economies struggling with volatile gas prices.

Reflecting on shifting trade patterns since the 2022 supply shock, he noted that the LNG market has witnessed a renewed appetite for long-term contracts, even as short-term agreements remain attractive. This dual demand, he said, is driven by heightened global uncertainty and the desire of buyers and producers to lock in supply security.

Addressing how LNG can continue to meet growing global energy needs, the NLNG chief highlighted the importance of three core pillars—availability, affordability, and decarbonisation. He explained that while natural gas is often viewed as a transition fuel, its relevance will extend far beyond the next few decades if these pillars are strengthened.

Mshelbila pointed to significant supply-expansion projects in the United States and Qatar, along with NLNG’s own Train 7 development, which is set to add eight million tonnes per annum of new capacity. These investments, he said, are critical to meeting expected long-term demand growth.

However, he cautioned that affordability remains LNG’s most critical challenge. Persistently high prices, he argued, have forced several developing nations to revert to cheaper but more carbon-intensive fuels such as coal—undermining global climate ambitions.

The World LNG Summit, now in its 25th year, continues to be the industry’s premier global platform for policymakers, producers, buyers, financiers, and technology innovators to shape the future direction of LNG amid mounting geopolitical and economic uncertainties.