Seplat Energy has announced the appointment of Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed and Mr. Larry Ephraim Ettah as Independent Non-Executive Directors, effective January 1, 2026, strengthening the company’s board with deep energy-sector and corporate leadership experience.
The appointments follow the exit of Mr. Bello Rabiu and Mr. Babs Omotowa, who stepped down from the Seplat board in April 2025 after their presidential appointments to the Board of NNPC Limited. Seplat said the new appointments were made after a structured recruitment process in line with its board succession plan.
Engineer Mohammed brings more than 37 years of experience across Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain, with a strong focus on natural gas development, commercialisation and infrastructure. He previously served as Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where he helped shape major gas policies and frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and inputs into the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Widely regarded as a key architect of Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion, Mohammed played central roles in landmark projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train 7. His career has also included leadership roles as Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, as well as board chairmanships across several NNPC subsidiaries and regional gas institutions. He is a Fellow of both the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers.
Mr. Ettah, on his part, joins the Seplat board with nearly four decades of corporate leadership experience, spanning manufacturing, consumer goods, logistics, and financial services. He is best known for his long career at UAC of Nigeria Plc, where he rose from management trainee in 1988 to Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held for 11 years.
During his tenure, Ettah led UAC’s strategic transformation, forging international partnerships with companies such as Tiger Brands, Imperial Logistics, and Famous Brands, while overseeing major acquisitions including Livestock Feeds Plc and Portland Paints Plc. Since retiring from UAC in 2018, he has served as Executive Chairman of Barracuda Capital Partners, while holding multiple board positions across Nigeria’s financial and real estate sectors. He is also known for his contributions to national economic policy and leadership roles in key business associations.
Welcoming the new directors, Seplat Energy Chairman, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, said the board was strengthened by the complementary strengths of both appointees.
“Their experiences combine deep industry knowledge with outstanding business leadership. We look forward to the significant contributions they will make as we advance Seplat Energy’s strategic growth objectives,” he said.
The appointments come as Seplat Energy continues to position itself for long-term growth, with a renewed focus on gas development, operational excellence, and strong corporate governance.
