In a major shake-up in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Heirs Energies Limited, chaired by billionaire Tony Elumelu, has agreed to acquire the entire 20.07% equity stake in Seplat Energy Plc from French oil company Etablissements Maurel & Prom S.A.

The transaction involves the sale of 120.4 million ordinary shares at approximately £3.05 per share, valuing the deal at around $496 million to $500 million.

The binding agreement was signed on December 30, 2025, after market close, marking Maurel & Prom’s exit from its long-held position in Seplat, one of Nigeria’s leading independent energy producers listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Exchange.

Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Energies and its parent Heirs Holdings, described the acquisition as a “long-term investment in Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy future,” emphasizing its alignment with goals of energy security, industrialization, and shared prosperity.

Maurel & Prom CEO Olivier de Langavant stated that the sale allows the company to monetize its stake and redirect resources toward direct investments in oil and gas assets, while expressing confidence in Heirs Energies as a strong, long-term shareholder for Seplat.

Seplat Energy, a key player in Nigeria’s energy transition with significant oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta, recently bolstered its portfolio through acquisitions, including ExxonMobil’s shallow-water assets.

This deal further consolidates indigenous ownership in Nigeria’s upstream sector, following Heirs Energies’ own growth as a major gas supplier powering domestic electricity generation.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has faulted the ban on alcohol sold in sachets and small bottles, warning that the policy could worsen smuggling and lead to job losses.

NAN, reports that the Director-General of NECA, Mr Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, expressed the association’s position during a media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said such a blanket ban was not the appropriate solution to concerns surrounding the products, emphasising that the ban could open more opportunities for smugglers, particularly given Nigeria’s more than 1,000 unmanned entry and exit points.

” The ban poses serious risks to the economy, as it could result in the loss of jobs and investments across the value chain.

“Looking at the overall economic objectives, where do you throw the jobs that would be lost in that place?

” We are not worried about the rate of unemployment. We’re not worried about the business investment that will be lost. We’re not worried about the consequences of the message we are communicating to other investors,” Smatt-Oyerinde said.

He added that banning sachet alcohol would also create additional challenges for law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the wider economy.

• Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola has sold out his majority shares in Geregu Power Plc to an indigenous firm, MA’AM Energy Limited, an Abuja-based integrated energy company engaged in electricity generation and supply, energy trading and marketing.

The deal is valued at $750 million deal.

The power plant uploaded the filing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) website.

According to the details cited, the transaction was consummated through the sale of Otedola’s 95 percent stake in Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited to MA’AM Energy Limited.

According to the NGX filing, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, the majority shareholder of Geregu Power, has undergone a significant restructuring of its ownership.

The document confirms that “MA’AM Energy Ltd has acquired a 95 per cent equity interest” in Amperion Power, effectively making it the new controlling shareholder of Geregu Power Plc.Consequently, the indirect controlling interest previously held by Calvados Global Services Limited and Otedola “has been transferred to MA’AM Energy.”

The transaction, which closed yesterday, was financed by a consortium of Nigerian banks led by Zenith Bank, with Blackbirch Capital acting as financial advisers.

While the sale involved Otedola’s stake in Amperion, Geregu Power clarified that this “does not involve the direct sale or transfer of shares of Geregu Power Plc,” meaning the company’s public shareholding structure on the NGX remains unchanged.

Geregu Power is currently valued at N2.85 trillion, trading at N1,140 per share and remains one of the most capitalised and profitable firms on the Nigerian Exchange.