The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, and Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Ltd, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, have been elected as President and Secretary General of the 2026 Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Ministerial Meeting. This development was announced in a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, in Abuja.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the emergence of Nigeria’s candidates, describing the achievement as a historic moment for the country. The company views this as a testament to the Federal Government’s gas agenda, which aims to utilize natural gas as a major fuel for industrial growth and economic development.
Dr. Mshelbila, who succeeds Algeria’s Mohamed Hamel as the 5th Secretary General of the global organization, was elected at the Forum’s 27th Ministerial Meeting in Doha, Qatar. The GECF has been a leading voice in positioning natural gas as a cornerstone of global sustainable development. As the new Secretary General, Mshelbila is expected to play a key role in shaping the organization’s agenda and promoting the interests of its member countries.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Ojulari, has expressed pride in Mshelbila’s achievement, noting that it demonstrates the progress being made in Nigeria’s gas sector. Ojulari also congratulated Ekpo on his emergence as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting, recognizing his efforts to harness Nigeria’s abundant gas resources for industrialization and economic development.
The GECF is an international intergovernmental organization that provides a platform for the exchange of experience and information among its member countries. Its membership includes major gas-exporting nations such as Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, and Qatar, among others. Collectively, the GECF member countries hold 69% of the world’s proven natural gas reserves and account for 39% of marketed production.
The election of Ekpo and Mshelbila is seen as a significant development for Nigeria and the African region, as it reinforces the country’s position as a major player in the global gas market. With Mshelbila at the helm of GECF, Nigeria and the region are expected to witness remarkable progress in the quest to make natural gas a pivotal resource for inclusive and sustainable development. The outcome of the election is likely to have far-reaching implications for the global energy landscape, as the GECF continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the gas industry.