The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his pivotal role in the emergence of Nigeria’s candidate, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), as the new Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
NNPC Ltd described the development as a historic milestone for Nigeria and a strong endorsement of the Federal Government’s Gas Agenda, which seeks to make natural gas the cornerstone of industrial growth and economic transformation.
Dr. Mshelbila was elected during the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the GECF held on Thursday in Doha, Qatar. He succeeds Algeria’s Mohamed Hamel as the fifth Secretary General of the global organisation, which plays a leading role in advancing natural gas as a key driver of sustainable global development.
Reacting to the announcement, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari praised Mshelbila’s leadership at NLNG, noting his outstanding contributions to transforming Nigeria’s vast gas reserves into export-grade LNG, LPG, and condensates to serve both domestic and international markets.
“NNPC Ltd is proud of what Dr. Mshelbila has achieved at Nigeria LNG,” Ojulari said. “With this feat, he has firmly placed Nigeria on the global energy map. It also reinforces President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Gas to Prosperity agenda, which aims to utilize natural gas as the foundation for Nigeria’s industrialisation, energy security, and economic growth.”
Ojulari expressed confidence that under Mshelbila’s leadership, the GECF will further advance Africa’s and Nigeria’s interests in positioning natural gas as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development.
The NNPC boss also congratulated the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, on his emergence as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting, commended his ongoing efforts to harness Nigeria’s abundant gas potential for national growth and prosperity.
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) is an intergovernmental organization representing the world’s leading gas-exporting nations. It provides a platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange, and dialogue between gas producers and consumers to promote stability and security in the global gas market.
Member countries include Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela, with Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Peru, and Senegal as observer members.
Collectively, GECF members hold 69% of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, account for 39% of marketed production, contribute 40% of global gas exports, and represent 51% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
