Credibility and Scale Drive Capital, Says Seplat CEO Roger Brown at 16

As Seplat Energy Plc marks 16 years of operations, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, has reaffirmed that credibility, disciplined execution, and scale remain the decisive factors shaping investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Reflecting on Seplat’s growth journey, Brown said the company’s evolution from a start-up indigenous operator to one of Nigeria’s leading energy firms proves that local companies can successfully acquire assets, perform competitively in the market, and deliver returns that meet global financing standards.

“For 16 years, Seplat has shown that indigenous companies can scale successfully—acquiring assets, performing on the market, and delivering returns that attract global lenders,” Brown said. “As Africa’s energy sector looks ahead, the future will depend on that same consistency: disciplined execution, responsible borrowing, and coordinated delivery on national targets.”

According to the Seplat CEO, access to capital across the global energy industry is increasingly constrained, making credibility a critical differentiator. Brown noted that indigenous operators are competing for the same pools of capital as international energy companies and must therefore uphold the highest standards of financial discipline.

“Capital follows credibility,” he said. “Indigenous operators must continue proving that we can deliver at scale. That is why we must be exemplary borrowers—delivering projects, repaying obligations, and building credibility that benefits every indigenous operator in the sector.”

Despite a global retreat from oil and gas financing, Brown said Nigeria is beginning to see renewed investor interest, driven largely by improvements in policy clarity and regulatory stability. He pointed to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), clearer gas development strategies, and a stronger execution-focused posture by government as key confidence builders.

“Even as global capital pulls back from oil and gas, Nigeria is demonstrating that clarity of policy and unity of industry can reignite interest,” Brown said. “The government’s execution-focused approach through the PIA, gas plans, and regulatory stability is restoring confidence and creating a more investable energy landscape.”

Industry analysts say Seplat’s experience reflects a broader shift within Nigeria’s energy sector, where indigenous companies are increasingly positioned to drive growth, particularly in gas development, which is central to Nigeria’s energy transition and industrialisation agenda.

As discussions at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 continue to shape policy and investment priorities, Seplat’s 16-year track record is being cited as evidence that indigenous operators can play a leading role in delivering Nigeria’s energy ambitions—provided they remain credible, financially disciplined, and aligned with national objectives.

In a capital-constrained global environment, Brown maintained that Nigeria’s energy future will depend on companies that can consistently execute, responsibly manage financing, and work in step with government reforms to deliver sustainable value for the economy.

Seplat Energy at 16: CEO Roger Brown says credibility, disciplined execution, and policy clarity under the PIA are key to attracting global capital and positioning indigenous firms to lead Nigeria’s energy future.

Seplat Energy marks 16 years as CEO Roger Brown highlights how credibility, scale, and disciplined execution—backed by the PIA and gas development plans—are rebuilding investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector.