Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind efforts to harmonise oil and gas regulation across Africa, as the African Petroleum Regulators Forum, AFRIPERF, pushes to expand its membership and deepen continental cooperation on energy governance.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Senator Ekperikpe Ekpo, expressed Nigeria’s support for the initiative during a meeting with the Chairperson of AFRIPERF and Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Abuja.
AFRIPERF is a continental platform designed to align regulatory frameworks across Africa’s oil and gas industry, with the aim of improving investment flows, strengthening policy coordination, and enhancing the continent’s influence in global energy negotiations.
Eyesan told the minister that membership of the forum is expanding, disclosing that several African countries have already signed onto the charter.
According to her, Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, The Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea and Togo are among the current signatories, while more countries are in the process of joining.
She said, “We’ve been working to sensitize other regulators within the continent and today we are happy that quite a number of countries have indicated interest.”
Eyesan explained that the growing participation reflects increasing recognition of the need for a coordinated African regulatory voice in global energy discussions, especially amid shifting energy transition policies and investment competition.
In his remarks, Senator Ekpo said Nigeria remains committed to advancing regional and global gas diplomacy, noting that Africa must strengthen its collective voice in shaping energy transition policies.
He pointed to Nigeria’s recent emergence as a key player in global gas governance, referencing the country’s successful bid for the Secretary General position at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, GECF, as evidence of Africa’s rising influence in international energy affairs.
The minister stressed the importance of unity among African regulators, saying a coordinated approach would improve policy coherence, attract investment and strengthen the continent’s bargaining power in global energy markets.
He affirmed Nigeria’s full support for AFRIPERF’s mandate and pledged to leverage the country’s regulatory experience to advance the forum’s objectives, describing the initiative as timely for Africa’s evolving energy landscape.
