# The African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation has emphasised the need for Africa to prioritise its substantial oil and gas resources for continental development. The organisation’s secretary-general, Omar Farouk Ibrahim highlighted that approximately 75-percent of Africa’s oil and 40-percent of its gas are exported, while a significant portion of the population lacks access to modern energy. He advocates for an ‘Africa first’ approach, urging the continent to harness its energy wealth to address local energy poverty and drive economic growth.
African petroleum producers advocate for Africa first in utilizing vast oil and gas reserves