The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has stated that Nigeria’s estimated 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves will serve as a cornerstone for the country’s economic transformation and industrial growth.
Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Ekpo stated that Nigeria’s recent success at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha, Qatar, would unlock new avenues for investment and accelerate the transformation of the nation’s energy sector.
He revealed that the Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Dr. Philip Mshelbila, has been elected as the new Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), while he himself has been appointed to serve as President of the GECF Ministerial Council in 2026.
“This is a big win for Nigeria,” Ekpo said. “With our candidate, Dr Mshelbila, now leading the global gas organisation and my appointment as president of the ministerial council, Nigeria will gain more visibility in the gas space. This will attract investment, create jobs, and help us utilise our 210 trillion cubic feet of gas to drive the economy.”
The minister said the development reflected President Tinubu’s focus on the full utilisation of Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to promote industrialisation, energy security, and economic stability.
“For a long time, we didn’t have sufficient investment in gas,” he said. “Now, with this global leadership role, we expect more collaboration with other gas-exporting countries, which will bring projects into Nigeria’s upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.”
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Responding to questions on the prevailing scarcity of gas for vehicular and household use, Ekperikpe Ekpo expressed optimism that the renewed international interest in Nigeria’s gas sector would enhance domestic supply, as private investors intensify efforts to expand pipeline infrastructure across the country.
“It’s going to be a game-changer,” he added. “With increased exploration and better infrastructure, more gas will reach the nooks and crannies of the country.”
Ekpo said President Tinubu congratulated both him and Mshelbila for the country’s success at the forum and urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.
In his remarks, Mshelbila said his election as Secretary-General of the GECF, which controls about 70 per cent of global gas reserves and nearly half of the world’s LNG exports, would enable Nigeria to play a stronger role in shaping global gas policy.
“Nigeria has always been seen as gas-rich but under-exploited,” Mshelbila said. “This role will help us attract the kind of attention and investment needed to unlock our gas potential.”
Mshelbila’s tenure as Secretary-General of the GECF will begin in January 2026.
Olusola Akintonde