Nigeria has secured two key leadership positions at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emerging as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting, and Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), appointed as Secretary-General of the forum.
The announcement was made in a congratulatory statement issued on Thursday by the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
Tuggar described the appointments as a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s proactive foreign policy and strategic vision to restore Nigeria’s global influence in energy diplomacy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that the success followed intensive diplomatic engagements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Nigeria’s missions in GECF member states. The campaign included lobbying efforts and bilateral discussions at major international gatherings such as the BRICS Summit in Brazil and the African Union’s 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
According to the statement, the process also received strong political backing from the Presidency, which helped Nigeria secure broad-based international support. Tuggar commended both Ekpo and Mshelbila for their outstanding leadership and expertise, describing their elections as “victories not only for Nigeria but for Africa’s collective voice in global energy governance.”
He expressed confidence that the duo will advance the GECF’s objectives in driving global energy transition, promoting equitable resource management, and fostering sustainable development. Tuggar reaffirmed the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s commitment to aligning its diplomatic engagements with Tinubu’s vision of a reformed and respected Nigeria.
In a separate message, Nigeria’s Executive Board Member at the GECF and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, congratulated both officials on their appointments.
Ahmed described the development as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing leadership and credibility within the global gas sector. He lauded Mshelbila’s proven track record and urged him to serve with transparency and commitment to advancing the collective interests of member countries amid the global energy transition.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s continued support for the GECF’s mission to enhance cooperation, investment, and innovation across the international gas value chain.
