Nigeria spearheads charter signing to harmonise Africa’s petroleum regulations

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says the country has spearheaded the signing of a charter establishing the African petroleum regulators forum (AFRIPERF).

According to a statement, the signing ceremony, chaired by Gbenga Komolafe, the NUPRC’s chief executive officer (CEO), took place on Thursday on the sidelines of the 31st edition of the Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, Ghana.

The NUPRC said the event was attended by regulators from 16 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea and Togo.

Others in attendance were Kenya, Mauritania, Benin, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Morocco.

Etang Williams, chairperson of the senate committee on upstream, was also present as an observer.

The commission said the AFRIPERF aims to harmonise oil regulation to attract crucial investment across the continent’s energy sector.

The forum also seeks to become the continent’s premier platform for regulatory cooperation, knowledge sharing, and investment promotion in the petroleum sector.

During the event, according to the statement, regulators from eight countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo, formally endorsed the charter, while seven others expressed support pending domestic consultations.

“This historic milestone is the climax of the proposal first introduced by Engineer Komolafe last year when he championed the creation of AFRIPERF to strengthen petroleum governance across Africa,” the statement reads.

“The Forum held its inaugural meeting in July 2024, followed by a second gathering in November 2024, setting the stage for Thursday’s breakthrough.”

‘CHARTER SIGNING MARKS DECISIVE STEP TOWARD HARMONISED PETROLEUM INDUSTRY’

Speaking at the event, Komolafe, who doubles as the interim chairman of the forum, described the AFRIPERF meeting and the charter signing as a decisive step toward creating a harmonised and sustainable petroleum industry in Africa.

The NUPRC CEO said Africa must manage its hydrocarbon resources with foresight and innovation as the world shifts to sustainable energy.

“From our initial announcement at the 8th SAIPEC, to our inauguration during the NOG 2024 event and the careful drafting of the AFRIPERF Charter, each milestone has brought us closer to this historic day,” he said.

“By activating our Executive Committee, Technical Committee and Secretariat, we are establishing the functional pillars that will drive AFRIPERF forward, ensuring that our shared vision is translated into measurable results with defined timelines and accountability.

“AFRIPERF provides regulators with the mechanism to harmonise our policies, address shared challenges and ensure that our perspectives are not only heard but respected on the global stage.”

According to the statement, the executive committee will serve as the principal oversight body guiding the implementation of AFRIPERF’s objectives, noting that its membership is for heads of Africa’s oil and gas regulatory agencies.

The NUPRC added that the secretariat committee “will comprise member countries and nominations will be called for and presented to the executive committee for ratification”.