President Bola Tinubu on Thursday applauded the appointments of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr Philip Mshelbila, to top positions within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), describing the development as a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s energy diplomacy.
The two Nigerian officials were received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following their election to prominent leadership roles at the 27th GECF Ministerial Meeting held in Doha, Qatar.
Mshelbila was elected Secretary-General of the GECF, defeating other contenders, including the outgoing Secretary-General, Algeria’s Mohamed Hamel. His tenure is set to begin in January 2026. Meanwhile, Minister Ekpo was appointed President of the GECF Ministerial Meeting for 2026, marking a dual triumph for Nigeria on the global gas stage.
President Tinubu commended both men for their accomplishments, urging them to serve as exemplary ambassadors of Nigeria and uphold the nation’s reputation as a key player in the international energy sector.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Ekpo described the outcome as “a major visibility boost for Nigeria in the gas space,” crediting the Tinubu administration’s strategic focus on natural gas as a driver of national economic growth and energy security.
“This is a big win for Nigeria. We should celebrate our President and celebrate Nigeria,” Ekpo said. He noted that the new leadership roles would help attract foreign investment, create jobs, and enhance the utilisation of Nigeria’s vast 210 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.
The minister also addressed local challenges, including limited gas availability for vehicles converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), assuring that the renewed international recognition would spur upstream exploration and infrastructure development within the domestic gas industry.
Dr Mshelbila, in his remarks, said Nigeria’s new leadership status within the GECF—an organisation representing countries holding about 70% of the world’s natural gas reserves and nearly half of global LNG exports—offers an unparalleled platform to advance investment and innovation in the country’s gas sector.
