Nigeria spearheaded the formal establishment of the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) on September 18, 2025, as regulators from eight nations inked a charter aimed at fostering investment, harmonizing regulations, and tackling shared challenges in the continent's hydrocarbon sector, during a meeting on the sidelines of the 31st Africa Oil Week.

Chaired by Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of Nigeria's Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the signing drew endorsements from Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo.

Seven additional countries—Kenya, Mauritania, Benin, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and Morocco—committed to joining post-consultations. Komolafe, serving as interim chairman, hailed the event as a "decisive step" toward a unified, sustainable petroleum industry, emphasizing Africa's need to manage its resources innovatively amid global energy transitions.

The charter outlines AFRIPERF's mission to enhance cooperation among regulators for a "safe, efficient, rewarding, equitable, and sustainable" sector. It envisions the forum as a hub for knowledge exchange, best practices, technology transfer, and addressing regional issues like regulatory hurdles and investment barriers. Komolafe detailed the structure: an Executive Committee of regulatory heads for oversight; a Technical Committee of experts for thematic priorities; and a Secretariat for operations, with nominations forthcoming for ratification.

This milestone builds on Komolafe's 2024 initiative, launched at the 8th SAIPEC and inaugurated at NOG 2024, evolving through drafts and meetings. The forum activates committees to propel objectives, including policy alignment and amplifying African voices globally.

Senate Committee on Upstream Chairman Senator Etang Williams attended as an observer, underscoring Nigeria's leadership. AFRIPERF's next steps include electing a permanent chairperson under Article 12, appointing member representatives per Article 10, and designating headquarters via Article 25.