Ekperikpe Ekpo: Nigeria’s dual victory at GECF will attract investments into gas sector, create jobs

Ekperikpe Ekpo, the minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), says Nigeria’s twin victory at the gas exporting countries forum (GECF) will attract investments into the country and create jobs.

Ekpo spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he visited President Bola Tinubu, alongside Philip Mshelbila, managing director of Nigeria LNG Limited.

The visit follows the duo’s election into prominent leadership positions at the GECF.

At the 27th ministerial meeting of the GECF in Doha, Qatar, Mshelbila was elected secretary-general of the forum, while Ekpo was appointed president of the ministerial meeting for 2026.

Speaking with state house correspondents after the meeting, Ekpo described the dual victory as a significant win for Nigeria, crediting the Tinubu administration’s focus on natural gas as a driver of economic growth and energy security.

“This is a big visibility for Nigeria in the gas space,” he said.

“We should celebrate our president and celebrate Nigeria for this big win.”

The minister said the election of Nigeria’s candidates is set to attract investments into the Nigerian gas sector, create jobs, and optimise its gas reserves, currently estimated at 210 trillion cubic feet.

He also addressed ongoing challenges such as limited gas availability for vehicles converted to compressed natural gas (CNG), affirming that the elevated roles would stimulate upstream exploration and infrastructure growth in Nigeria’s gas industry.

“Mr. President is really happy about what we have done. He congratulated the secretary and congratulated me and charged us to be good ambassadors of our dear country, Nigeria, which, of course, we promise to live up to expectation,” he said.

In his remarks, Mshelbila expressed pride in Nigeria’s leadership role within the GECF, an organisation representing countries that hold about 70 percent of the world’s natural gas reserves and account for nearly half of global LNG exports.

The position, he said, offers Nigeria a platform to attract investment and lead activities spanning upstream to downstream gas development.

“Nigeria has always been seen as a gas resource-rich country, but we have not exploited it to the extent we could,” Mshelbila said.

“On the platform of the Decade of Gas, we have the opportunity to pursue projects that will enable Nigeria to benefit fully from its gas resources.”

‘NATURAL GAS REMAINS CORNERSTONE OF INDUSTRIAL GROWTH’

Tinubu, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, had congratulated Mshelbila, and Ekpo on the achievements.

He expressed confidence that the leaders will represent Nigeria with distinction and work with other member nations to strengthen cooperation, stability, and inclusivity in the global gas market.

“The Nigerian government is proud of Mshelbila’s election as Secretary-General and Ekpo’s emergence as President of the GECF Ministerial meeting, as these reflect the international community’s confidence in Nigeria’s leadership and technical expertise in the global gas sector,” the president was quoted as saying.

“Natural gas remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial growth, energy security, and economic transformation under our administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Tinubu assured that Nigeria will remain a dependable voice in advancing equitable energy access and a cleaner energy future.