About AFRIPERF
AFRIPERF is the foremost continental institution tasked with the mandate to bring together petroleum regulatory authorities from African nations under one umbrella. Eight countries have formally ratified the AFRIPERF Charter and hold full membership with voting rights. A further seven nations have pledged to ratify after domestic consultations. Observer status is available to African national oil companies and relevant intergovernmental bodies.
To enhance cooperation and collaboration among African petroleum regulators, to ensure a safe, efficient, rewarding, equitable, and sustainable petroleum industry.
To be the premier platform for African petroleum regulators to share knowledge, best practices, and expertise, in order to attain regional excellence in petroleum regulation.
How the Forum Came to Be
Our Origins
The idea for AFRIPERF was first proposed in 2023 by Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, then Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), at the 8th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC). Komolafe observed that while African countries possessed vast petroleum resources — estimated at over 125 billion barrels of crude oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas — fragmented regulatory frameworks were limiting investment, undermining governance, and weakening Africa’s influence in global energy policy.
The Abuja Declaration (2024)
At the 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja, petroleum regulators from
across Africa gathered for AFRIPERF’s inaugural roundtable. The meeting produced the Abuja Declaration — a six-point charter committing member regulators to collaboration, knowledge sharing, technology transfer, capacity building, the dissemination of best practices, and advocacy for Africa’s collective interests at international level.
The Charter Signing (September 2025)
On 18 September 2025, in Accra, Ghana, regulators from 16 African nations gathered for the fourth AFRIPERF meeting. Eight countries formally signed the AFRIPERF Charter: Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea and Togo. Seven further nations pledged to ratify after consultations. This signing marked the formal establishment of the Forum as a continental regulatory institution.
Formal Establishment (December 2025)
At the inaugural Executive Committee meeting on 2 December 2025 — attended virtually by 16 member countries — AFRIPERF adopted Nigeria as its official headquarters and elected Engr. Gbenga Komolafe as its first Chairman. Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan was elected Secretary. Eight countries had by this point ratified the treaty, becoming full members with voting rights.
Current Leadership (2026)
In early 2026, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan assumed the role of Chairperson of AFRIPERF following her appointment as Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC. At her maiden Executive Committee meeting on 1 April 2026, she set out a clear agenda centred on unity, stronger institutions, and coordinated action. “Africa’s energy future will be determined not by individual country efforts, but by coordinated and collective regulatory action,” she told member states.
2023
July 2024
November 2024
September 2025
December 2025
April 2026
Our Purpose
- Foster collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators.
- Promote harmonisation of petroleum regulations and standards to enhance effective sector governance, uphold safety protocols and safeguard environmental protection.
- Enhance regulatory capacity and capability through training, capacity building and experience sharing.
- Facilitate dialogue with industry stakeholders and international organisations.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing, technology transfer and dissemination of international best practices among Member Regulators.
- Address regional petroleum regulatory challenges and leverage opportunities.
- Advocate for member countries' interests at international levels in collaboration with relevant intergovernmental organisations.
- Leverage on the collective strengths of Member Regulators to secure appropriate energy source for the development of member nations and its people.
- Drive and promote investments in Africa's petroleum activities.
- Foster an environment of transparency and sound regulation.
- Advance ethical practices in the exploitation of petroleum.
- Address new challenges and opportunities in the petroleum sector, such as digitalisation, renewable integration, and emission reduction.
- Drive and promote investment in the African midstream petroleum sector.
- Support the establishment and harmonization of regulatory frameworks for natural gas markets, including cross-border gas trade, pricing transparency, and infrastructure development.
Our Values
Cooperation
Excellence
Integrity
Innovation
Inclusivity
One continent. One standard.
Membership is open to the official petroleum regulatory body of any African sovereign state. Expressions of interest are received by the AFRIPERF Secretariat in Abuja.
