By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has lauded the election of two Nigerians into key positions of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
congratulates of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) at
The 27th Ministerial Meeting of the GECF held last week in Doha, Qatar, saw the election of the Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Philip Mshelbila as the Secretary-General of the Forum.
Similarly, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emerged as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting, a development that will further consolidate the country’s leadership in global gas diplomacy.
In a congratulatory message to the two, President Tinubu was said to have expressed his confidence that Dr Mshelbila and Minister Ekpo will represent Nigeria with distinction and work with other member nations to strengthen cooperation, stability, and inclusivity in the global gas market.
The statement reads in part: The Nigerian government is proud of Mshelbila’s election as Secretary-General and Ekpo’s emergence as President of the GECF Ministerial meeting, as the two positions reflect the international community’s confidence in Nigeria’s leadership and technical expertise in the global gas sector.
“Natural gas remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial growth, energy security, and economic transformation under our administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Our country shall remain a dependable voice in advancing equitable energy access and a cleaner energy future.”
Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) lauded President Tinubu’s strategic role in the emergence of the two Nigerians in top GECF positions.
The Group CEO, NNPC Ltd., Bashir Ojulari described the development as a milestone and a testimony to the Federal Government’s Gas Agenda, aimed at utilising natural gas as a major fuel for industrial growth and economic development.
Mr. Ojulari, in a statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., Andy Odeh, was said to have described the feat as a historic moment for Nigeria.
The statement reads further: “NNPC Ltd is proud of what Mshelbila has achieved at NLNG, where he has worked tirelessly to transform Nigeria’s vast gas reserves into export-grade LNG, LPG and condensates, serving domestic needs and global markets in the process.
“With this feat, Philip Mshelbila has put Nigeria on the global energy map for good.
“This shows that President Tinubu’s gas to prosperity agenda, aimed at utilising natural gas as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation, is on the right trajectory.”
The appointments are a milestone and a testimony to the Federal Government’s Gas Agenda, aimed at utilising natural gas as a major fuel for industrial growth and economic development.
Sustainable development
Mr. Ojulari further assured that with Mshelbila at the helm of GECF, Africa, Nigeria and indeed the NNPC Ltd. will witness a remarkable progress in the quest to make natural gas the pivotal resource for sustainable development.
The GCEO equally congratulated Mr. Ekpo on his emergence as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting, noting that the Minister has been at the forefront of championing efforts to harness Nigeria’s abundant gas resources for industrialisation and economic development.
This is just as the Nigerian Executive Board Member of GECF Farouk Ahmed, also congratulated Messrs Mshelbila and Ekpo on their new top positions at the GCEF.
Mr. Ahmed, who is also the Authority Chief Executive, (ACE) Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), described both outcomes as a testament to Nigeria’s growing leadership, credibility and recognition within the global gas community.
The ACE, in a statement by the Director, Public Affairs Department, NMDPRA, Mr George Ene-Ita, was quoted as saying that the dual honours reflect the country’s strategic contributions in the energy space.
He commended Mr. Mshelbila’s distinguished track record in the industry and expressed the confidence that his experience would strengthen the Forum’s role in promoting natural gas as a key driver of global energy security.
Mr. Ahmed further charged the new GECF Secretary-General to serve with dedication, transparency and renewed commitment to advancing the collective interests of member countries, particularly in addressing global energy transition challenges and ensuring fair value for gas resources.
Mr. Mshelbila succeeds Algeria’s Mohamed Hamel as the fifth scribe of the global organisation, which has been a leading voice in positioning natural gas as a cornerstone of global sustainable development.
The GECF is an international intergovernmental organisation that provides a platform for the exchange of experience and information among its member countries.
Representing the world’s leading gas-exporting nations, the GECF aims to foster constructive dialogue between gas producers and consumers to enhance the stability and security of global gas supply and demand.
