NLNG Bids Farewell to MD Philip Mshelbila, Appoints Falade as Successor

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has held a symbolic sendoff ceremony in Abuja to mark the end of the tenure of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Philip Mshelbila, after more than four years at the helm of the company.

The ceremony, which took place on Friday, was attended by members of the NLNG Board of Directors, executives of shareholder companies, dignitaries from Nigeria’s public sector and the energy industry, members of the company’s management team, and representatives of various staff groups.

Following the approval of the NLNG Board of Directors, Engr. Adeleye Falade has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He is expected to assume office in April 2026. Falade will join NLNG from Brunei LNG, where he currently serves as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Mshelbila is scheduled to formally exit the company on 31 December 2025 to assume a new international role as Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha, Qatar.

Speaking at the event, NLNG’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Olakunle Osobu, described Mshelbila as a distinguished and accomplished professional with expertise spanning medicine, environmental health, strategic business leadership, and global gas diplomacy.

Osobu noted that Mshelbila took over leadership at a particularly challenging period for the company, marked by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread flooding that disrupted gas pipelines, vandalism, supplier force majeure declarations, and global energy market disruptions triggered by the Russia–Ukraine war. Despite these challenges, he said NLNG remained focused on sustainability, diversification, and safety under Mshelbila’s leadership.

He highlighted a major milestone achieved during Mshelbila’s tenure—the expansion of NLNG’s feed-gas supply base beyond its shareholder joint-venture structure. In August 2025, NLNG signed long-term Gas Supply Agreements with six third-party gas suppliers, committing an estimated 1,290 million standard cubic feet per day of feed gas to the company, a move described as historic and strategic.

Osobu added that Mshelbila championed innovation, emissions reduction, and environmental stewardship, while also redefining NLNG’s business model through a transformation programme aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability and value creation.

Also speaking at the ceremony, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mrs. Sophia Horsfall, praised Mshelbila’s leadership style and vision.

She described his tenure as one marked by selflessness, humility, and clarity of purpose, noting that he inspired excellence while positioning the company on a sustainable growth path.

In his response, Mshelbila expressed appreciation to NLNG’s shareholders, Board, staff, and industry partners for their support throughout his tenure. He commended the company’s strong culture of innovation and excellence, noting that these values would guide him in his new role at the GECF.

As Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Mshelbila is expected to strengthen dialogue between gas-producing and gas-consuming nations and promote natural gas as a reliable and sustainable global energy source.

Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku
Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs

For enquiries:
Elkanah Chawai
Elkanah.Chawai@nlng.com