Nigeria Leads Africa to Sign AFRIPERF Charter, Paving Way for Unified Petroleum Regulation

Nigeria has once again taken the lead in Africa’s oil and gas sector by spearheading the signing of the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) Charter, a historic step toward harmonising petroleum regulations across the continent and attracting fresh investments.

The signing took place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the 31st edition of Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, Ghana, under the leadership of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

16 Countries Participate, 8 Sign the AFRIPERF Charter

The ceremony was attended by petroleum regulators from 16 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, Togo, Kenya, Mauritania, Benin, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Morocco.

Of these, eight countries — Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo — formally signed the Charter, while seven others pledged to join after further consultations.

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Senator Etang Williams, Chairman of Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Upstream, also attended as an observer.

The vision behind AFRIPERF

First proposed by Engr. Komolafe in 2023, AFRIPERF aims to strengthen governance and promote consistency in Africa’s petroleum sector. The Forum has held three prior meetings before reaching this fourth gathering.

Komolafe, who serves as AFRIPERF’s interim chairman, described the signing as a decisive step toward creating a harmonised and sustainable petroleum industry in Africa.

“As the world transitions toward cleaner energy, Africa must manage its hydrocarbon resources with foresight and responsibility,” he stated. “AFRIPERF gives us the platform to align policies, share expertise, and amplify Africa’s voice on the global stage.”

Committees to drive implementation

To ensure the Charter’s vision is translated into action, AFRIPERF has established three key structures:

Executive Committee: Comprised of heads of Africa’s oil and gas regulatory agencies, serving as the oversight body for implementation.

Technical Committee: Activated on specific themes, drawing subject-matter experts from member countries and partners.

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Secretariat: To coordinate activities, with membership nominations ratified by the Executive Committee.

Charter mission and objectives

The AFRIPERF Charter sets out a bold mission: “to enhance cooperation and collaboration among African petroleum regulators, ensuring a safe, efficient, equitable, and sustainable petroleum industry.”

Its objectives include:

• Promoting harmonisation of petroleum regulations and safety standards.
• Strengthening capacity through training, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing.
• Safeguarding environmental protection.
• Facilitating dialogue with stakeholders and international organisations.
• Protecting member nations’ interests in global energy discussions.

The Charter also commits to promoting transparency, ethical practices, and investment opportunities in Africa’s petroleum sector, while advancing digitalisation, renewable energy integration, and emissions reduction.

Next Steps for AFRIPERF

• Following the signing, AFRIPERF will:
• Call for nominations to elect its first Chairperson.
• Select representatives from each member regulator.
• Designate a permanent AFRIPERF Headquarters.

Engr. Komolafe also proposed aligning AFRIPERF’s Annual General Meetings with Africa Oil Week to boost attendance and visibility.

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“This milestone is not the end but the beginning of a new era for Africa’s petroleum governance,” Komolafe affirmed.

Komolafe's leadership is lauded

Legit.ng earlier reported that Public Space Tracker, a West African organisation, has recognised the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as the most transparent and outstanding government agency in Nigeria.

This commendation highlights the exceptional leadership of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, NUPRC's Chief Executive, whose tenure has established new standards for accountability and efficiency in Nigeria's oil and gas sector.

The Public Space Tracker praised NUPRC for its "remarkable openness, policy innovation, and integrity" in managing Nigeria's upstream petroleum resources since Komolafe took office.

Source: Legit.ng