Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The African Petroleum Regulators Forum, AFRIPERF, has unanimously adopted Nigeria as its official headquarters and also elected the Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, as chairman of the Forum.
Before the endorsement, Engineer Komolafe was the interim chairman of AFRIPERF.
The decision was announced at the inaugural executive committee meeting of the Forum, which took place virtually.
Senior Manager of International Relations at the NUPRC, Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan, also emerged as secretary of AFRIPERF.
The development affirms Nigeria’s central role in the African petroleum regulatory space and as Africa’s largest producer of crude oil.
The meeting which was attended by 16 African countries, was convened to pick its leadership, headquarters and logo.
In his acceptance remarks, Komolafe expressed sincere appreciation to all members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to give his best in serving the forum.
A major highlight of the meeting was the proposed redesign of the AFRIPERF logo to better reflect unity among member states. The new concept, featuring the African map to symbolize a “Green Africa,” received broad support. Delegates from Morocco, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone and others provided constructive recommendations aimed at enhancing inclusivity, clarity and shared identity. It was agreed that revised samples will be circulated to all members for further input and voting, a decision praised as transparent and inclusive.
The meeting also addressed the expansion of membership to include National Oil Companies, NOCs, that perform regulatory functions, particularly in both upstream and downstream operations. With no objections raised, it was announced that formal extension notices will be issued to eligible NOCs, further widening AFRIPERF’s scope and regional influence.
Overall, the meeting reflected a high level of unity, openness, and strategic direction, with the Chairman steering discussions effectively and ensuring that member voices remained central to the outcomes.
AFRIPERF aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation, and coordination among member regulators.
