The West African Centre for Oil Governance has urged member states of the African Regulatory Forum to fully support Nigeria, citing the continent’s potential gain from a unified platform that enhances energy security and investor confidence. This call comes after the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, was elected as the chairman of the African Regulatory Forum, a body comprising petroleum regulators from across Africa.
Komolafe’s emergence as chairman is seen as a significant boost for regional energy integration and regulatory cohesion across the continent. According to the West African Centre for Oil Governance, this development reflects Nigeria’s growing recognition as a leader in shaping Africa’s energy future and marks a new phase in harmonizing petroleum regulatory frameworks.
The African Regulatory Forum had earlier elected Komolafe as its chairman during an executive committee meeting, where Nigeria was also adopted as the official headquarters of the Forum. This dual endorsement underscores Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer and its commitment to transparent, modern regulatory practices.
The West African Centre for Oil Governance believes that Komolafe will bring clarity, structure, and foresight to position African regulators as united, capable, and strategically aligned in the face of shifting global energy dynamics and rapid technological disruption. The Centre notes that African countries are pushing to standardize petroleum regulations, share data, strengthen local content frameworks, and engage more effectively with international energy markets.
As the host of the Forum’s headquarters, Nigeria is expected to share its extensive regulatory experience, technical expertise, and institutional memory in upstream petroleum governance with other West African countries. The Centre has encouraged the African Regulatory Forum to prioritize capacity building, addressing structural gaps that hinder effective supervision of upstream operations in many African countries.
The election of Komolafe as chairman is expected to drive reforms that ensure African regulators speak with a stronger collective voice on issues such as energy transition financing, investment security, emissions standards, and cross-border infrastructure. The West African Centre for Oil Governance is confident that Komolafe’s tenure will usher in an era where African regulators operate as a coordinated bloc, defending the continent’s interests and promoting sustainable development.