The West African Centre for Oil Governance (WACOG) has extended its congratulations to Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), following his election as the Chairman of the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF).
A Significant Milestone for Regional Cooperation
In a statement released on Friday, 5 December 2025, and signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Mensah Kofi Adjei, WACOG described this development as a pivotal move towards strengthening regulatory collaboration across Africa. The organisation stated that Komolafe's election, coupled with the Forum's decision to establish its official headquarters in Nigeria, underscores the continent's growing confidence in Nigeria's institutional expertise and its ongoing reforms in the upstream petroleum sector.
WACOG emphasised that Komolafe's emergence reflects the increasing recognition of Nigeria's influential role in shaping the petroleum regulatory landscape across Africa. AFRIPERF, a coalition of regulatory bodies from various African nations, aims to promote harmonised regulations, boost technical cooperation, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge among its members.
Leadership for a Critical Era
The Centre argued that the Forum's objectives demand a leader with a broad continental vision, deep industry knowledge, and a proven track record of strengthening regulatory frameworks—qualities it believes Komolafe has amply demonstrated during his tenure at the NUPRC.
Dr. Adjei noted that African regulatory agencies are currently navigating complex challenges, including shifting global energy dynamics, technological advancements, and the continent's own energy transition priorities. He highlighted that Komolafe's leadership in West Africa has been widely noted for its focus on:
- Enhancing transparency in operations.
- Streamlining regulatory processes.
- Deepening engagement with investors.
- Modernising institutional structures.
These efforts, according to WACOG, positioned him as the ideal candidate to steer AFRIPERF at a time when African producers are critically examining how to best utilise their hydrocarbon resources for sustainable and inclusive development.
Strategic Implications and Future Outlook
WACOG pointed out that this election occurs at a crucial juncture, as African countries intensify work to align petroleum regulations, strengthen local content policies, share operational data, and improve dialogue with international energy stakeholders.
Dr. Adjei stated that the Forum is expected to help forge a more unified regulatory voice for Africa, particularly on pressing issues such as financing the energy transition, protecting investments, managing emissions, developing cross-border infrastructure, and defining Africa's evolving position in global crude oil markets.
Furthermore, hosting the AFRIPERF secretariat in Nigeria is seen as an opportunity for neighbouring countries, especially within West Africa, to benefit from Nigeria's extensive institutional memory and technical depth in upstream petroleum governance.
WACOG called on all member states to rally behind the new leadership and to utilise the Forum as a platform for collaborative problem-solving, moving away from isolated national approaches. It urged AFRIPERF to prioritise capacity building, acknowledging that many African regulators still face structural and technical constraints that hamper effective oversight of upstream activities.
The Centre reaffirmed its commitment to partner with AFRIPERF through research initiatives, training programmes, and policy dialogues aimed at bolstering regulatory capability across the region. It characterised Komolafe's election as "a defining moment for Africa’s regulatory cooperation" and expressed optimism that the Forum would accelerate the modernisation of petroleum governance systems continent-wide.
