The African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) has unanimously adopted Nigeria as its official headquarters and elected the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, as chairman of the Forum.
Naija News reports that prior to the endorsement, Komolafe was interim chairman of AFRIPERF.
Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan also emerged as secretary of AFRIPERF.
The decision was announced at the inaugural executive committee meeting of the Forum which held virtually.
Out of the 16 countries that attended, eight have so far ratified the treaty to become full-fledged members of the Forum who have voting rights.
In his acceptance speech, Komolafe thanked his African counterparts for the trust and honour, promising to ensure that no member country is left behind.
AFRIPERF aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators.
Meanwhile, the West African Centre for Oil Governance (WACOG) has congratulated Engr. Gbenga Komolafe on his election, describing the development as a major boost for regional energy integration and regulatory cohesion across the continent.
In a statement on Friday signed by its executive director, Dr. Mensah Kofi Adjei, WACOG said Komolafe’s emergence reflects “the growing recognition of Nigeria’s leadership capacity in shaping Africa’s energy future” and marks a new phase in the effort to harmonise petroleum regulatory frameworks across the continent.
WACOG said the dual endorsement underscores not only Nigeria’s long-standing position as Africa’s largest oil producer but also its renewed commitment to transparent, modern regulatory practices.
Dr. Adjei said Komolafe’s leadership at the NUPRC has been closely followed across West Africa, noting that his reputation for strengthening technical standards, deepening regulatory reforms and improving investor engagement made him an “exceptional choice” to steer AFRIPERF.
According to him, the Forum’s mandate requires a leader with both continental perspective and deep industry knowledgecriteria he said Komolafe meets with distinction.
“Across Africa, regulators are grappling with shifting global energy dynamics, rapid technological disruption and the urgent need to leverage hydrocarbon resources for sustainable development,” the statement reads.
“We are confident that Engr. Komolafe will bring the clarity, structure and foresight required to position African regulators as united, capable and strategically aligned in this new era.”
WACOG added that Komolafe’s appointment comes at a crucial time as African countries push to standardise petroleum regulations, share data, strengthen local content frameworks, and engage more effectively with international energy markets.
Dr. Adjei said the Forum is expected to drive reforms that ensure African regulators speak with a stronger collective voice, especially on issues such as energy transition financing, investment security, emissions standards, cross-border infrastructure, and the future of African crude in global markets.
He said Nigeria hosting the Forum’s headquarters would allow West African countries to benefit from the country’s extensive regulatory experience, technical expertise and institutional memory in upstream petroleum governance.
WACOG urged AFRIPERF member-states to give full cooperation to the new leadership, stressing that the continent stands to gain from a unified platform capable of shaping policies that improve investor confidence and enhance energy security.
The Centre also encouraged the Forum to prioritise capacity building, noting that many African regulators still face structural gaps that hinder effective supervision of upstream operations.
“Komolafe’s tenure must usher in an era where African regulators no longer operate in silos but function as a coordinated bloc capable of defending the continent’s interests,” the statement added.
WACOG reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with AFRIPERF on research, training exchanges and policy dialogue initiatives aimed at strengthening the region’s regulatory landscape.
