Nigeria has taken the lead in uniting African petroleum regulators under a single framework, with the signing of the charter establishing the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF).
The charter was signed on Thursday on the sidelines of the 31st Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, Ghana, with Nigeria represented by Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo formally endorsed the charter, while regulators from seven other African nations pledged to join after consultations.
In total, representatives from 16 African countries attended the session.
Komolafe, who was named the Interim Chairman of AFRIPERF, said the move was a “decisive step” toward building a harmonised and sustainable petroleum industry across the continent.
“As the world navigates complex transitions toward cleaner, more sustainable energy systems, Africa must ensure that its vast hydrocarbon resources are managed with innovation, responsibility, and foresight,” he said.
