Nigeria has signed the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF), Charter alongside seven other African countries, in a landmark step towards harmonising oil and gas regulations across the continent.
The agreement was sealed during the 31st Africa Oil Week in Accra, Ghana, where regulators from 16 African nations gathered to strengthen cooperation in the petroleum sector.
Countries that signed the charter include Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo, while several others pledged support pending domestic approvals.
Speaking after the signing, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), who now serves as AFRIPERF’s interim chairman, said:
“This marks a decisive step towards building a harmonised and sustainable petroleum industry in Africa. As the global energy transition advances, we must manage our resources with innovation, responsibility, and foresight.”
He added that the forum would help ensure transparency, ethical practices, digitalisation, emissions reduction, and stronger investment attraction in Africa’s petroleum sector.
Officials noted that AFRIPERF will operate with an Executive Committee of regulatory heads, a Technical Committee of experts, and a Secretariat to drive its objectives.