By Ayo Ayodele
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Nigeria’s historic diplomatic triumph at the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) held in Doha, Qatar.
At the high-level meeting, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), was elected Secretary-General of the GECF, while Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), was chosen as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting.
Ambassador Tuggar described the twin victories as “a clear testament to President Tinubu’s proactive foreign policy and strategic vision to restore Nigeria’s influence in global energy diplomacy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Minister highlighted the pivotal diplomatic efforts that led to the success, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated Nigeria’s campaign through its missions across GECF member states. These missions actively lobbied and secured support for Nigeria’s candidates, including engagements at major international summits such as the BRICS Summit in Brazil and the African Union’s 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
He further acknowledged the strong political backing from the Presidency, which ensured broad-based support and consolidated Nigeria’s diplomatic standing in global energy governance.
Commending both Dr. Mshelbila and Minister Ekpo for their “stellar credentials and leadership,” Ambassador Tuggar emphasized that their emergence represents a victory not only for Nigeria but for Africa’s collective voice in global energy policy. He expressed confidence that the two leaders would advance the GECF’s mission to promote equitable resource management and sustainable energy transition.
Ambassador Tuggar reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s foreign policy direction in line with President Tinubu’s vision of a reformed, respected, and economically vibrant nation that continues to achieve tangible global recognition.