Nigeria has scored a significant diplomatic and energy milestone with the election of Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), as President, and Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Ltd., as Secretary-General of the 2026 Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Ministerial Meeting.
The appointments were confirmed at the forum’s 27t ministerial meeting held in Doha, Qatar.
In a statement from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the organisation congratulated both officials and praised President Bola Tinubu for his instrumental role in securing the leadership positions for the country’s candidates.
NNPCL described the development as historic, emphasising that it validates the Federal Government’s strategy of leveraging natural gas as a catalyst for industrial growth, energy security, and economic transformation.
Dr. Mshelbila, who succeeds Algeria’s Mohamed Hamel as the 5th Secretary-General of GECF, has been recognised for his efforts in transforming Nigeria’s abundant gas resources into export-ready products such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and condensates.
NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Ojulari, said Mshelbila’s achievement positions Nigeria prominently on the global energy map, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a reliable gas producer.
Speaking on Ekpo’s election as President of the 2026 Ministerial Meeting, Ojulari highlighted the minister’s ongoing efforts to harness Nigeria’s gas reserves for industrial and economic development.
He added that the leadership duo is expected to drive initiatives that will strengthen Nigeria’s and Africa’s role in the global gas sector, promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
The GECF is an international intergovernmental organisation that brings together leading gas-exporting nations to facilitate cooperation, exchange knowledge, and foster dialogue between producers and consumers.
Its member states include Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela, with observer countries such as Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Peru, and Senegal.
Collectively, GECF members control 69 per cent of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, account for 39 percent of marketed production, contribute 40 percent of global gas exports, and supply over half of the world’s LNG.
The forum’s 27th ministerial meeting comes at a time when global energy markets are undergoing significant shifts, with natural gas increasingly viewed as a cleaner and strategic fuel for industrialisation and power generation.
Nigeria’s leadership roles in the Forum underscored the country’s growing influence in global energy policy and its commitment to transforming natural gas into a cornerstone for national development.
With Ekpo and Mshelbila at the helm, industry observers expect Nigeria to play a more prominent role in shaping the global gas agenda, enhancing cooperation among member states, and creating opportunities for domestic industrial growth through the strategic utilization of gas resources.
