Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has been invited to address the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa, this November.

The 14-day session, which began on November 3, 2025, brings together legislators, policymakers, and development leaders from across Africa to discuss governance priorities and sustainable development strategies.

Komolafe, also interim President of the Africa Forum for Petroleum Regulators and Frameworks (AFRIPERF), will present a paper titled: “Legislative Frameworks for Sustainable Upstream Regulation in Africa’s Oil and Gas Sector.” His briefing will focus on how robust regulatory and legislative frameworks can promote sustainability in Africa’s upstream petroleum industry, drawing on Nigeria’s reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The Pan-African Parliament noted that Nigeria’s recent regulatory reforms—such as digitised licensing, environmental oversight, performance-based compliance systems, and provisions for host communities—could inform model laws across the continent. Under Komolafe’s leadership, Nigeria’s crude oil production has risen to ~1.7 million barrels per day, while gas flaring has fallen to 7.16%, among the lowest in two decades.

The invitation highlights Nigeria’s growing continental leadership in upstream petroleum governance and reflects the Tinubu administration’s emphasis on transparency, investor confidence, and sustainable resource management. Komolafe is expected to use the PAP platform to foster regulatory collaboration across Africa and support inclusive, sustainable energy policies aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.