Adeleye Falade Takes Helm At NLNG, Succeeds Philip Mshelbila
…Signals New Phase of Growth
By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
A new leadership chapter has commenced at Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as Adeleye Falade officially takes over as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Philip Mshelbila, who has been appointed Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Transition at NLNG Headquarters
Falade assumed office on Wednesday at the company’s Corporate Head Office in Port Harcourt, marking a strategic leadership transition at one of Nigeria’s most critical energy institutions.
Extensive Global Industry Experience
With nearly three decades in the global oil and gas industry, Falade brings deep technical and executive expertise across the LNG and broader petroleum value chain. His career within the Shell plc group spans multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Africa.
His professional background covers gas operations, production optimisation, engineering, operational excellence, and business transformation, with a consistent track record of managing complex, multinational operations and diverse teams.
Track Record of Leadership Roles
Before his appointment, Falade served as Managing Director of Brunei LNG Sendirian Berhad from April 2024, where he led strategic operations at one of the world’s established LNG producers.
Earlier in 2023, he held the position of Country Chair for Shell Namibia, overseeing corporate strategy and stakeholder engagement.
His previous tenure at NLNG includes serving as General Manager, Production (2019–2023), where he ensured plant reliability, operational safety, and production efficiency across the Bonny Island facilities. He also served as Operations Manager (2015–2018), driving plant performance and operational output.
Strong Academic and Professional Credentials
Falade holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from University of Ibadan and an MBA from Henley Business School, equipping him with both technical depth and strategic leadership capability.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. He also belongs to the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Leadership at a Critical Growth Phase
Falade’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for NLNG and Nigeria’s energy sector. The company recently secured long-term Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs) with six third-party suppliers to strengthen feedgas availability for its Bonny Island operations.
Additionally, the highly anticipated Train 7 expansion project is nearing completion, a development expected to significantly increase NLNG’s production capacity and reinforce Nigeria’s standing in the global LNG market.
Notably, Falade assumes leadership of a fully Nigerian management team, underscoring NLNG’s sustained commitment to indigenous capacity development and local leadership in the energy industry.
