The Board of West African Ministers of the WaGP (WAGP) elected the Nigerian minister of State for the oil resources in charge of gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, to its presidency for a one-year term.
The decision was made at the end of the meeting of the committee recently closed in Accra, Ghana, on April 29, 2025. Mr. Ekpo, a key player in the energy sector in West Africa, will direct this body for a one -year term and will work to guarantee a stable gas supply in the countries of the region.
Commenting on his appointment, Ekperikpe Ekpo is committed to ensuring an uninterrupted gas supply for member countries, guaranteeing the profitability of the shareholders and promoting unity within the block. He also reaffirmed his commitment to defend the essence of the group’s founding treaty.
The Nigerian minister began his professional career as a teacher before embarking on politics, becoming president of the local council of Ika in 2004. Elected in the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, he chaired several commissions.
-As Minister of State, Ekperikpe EKPO oversees Nigeria gas initiatives, such as reducing gas torch and stabilization of LPG prices, while facilitating major investments in the sector.
WAGP is a 678 -kilometer gas pipeline that carries Nigeria natural gas to Benin, Togo and Ghana. Designed in 1982 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and sponsored by the World Bank in 1991, the project was operated by the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCO).
This pipeline aims to strengthen the energy sectors in beneficiary countries by offering a cleaner and less expensive energy source for electricity production and other industrial uses.
Wapco shareholders include Chevron West African Gas Pipeline Ltd, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Shell Overseas Holdings Limited, Takoradi Power Company Limited, the Togolese Gaz Society and Bengaz SA Company
