Africa must put its energy resources into its development as a top priority or it will fall further behind Europe and become "even more unmanageable" in 20 or 30 years time, Italian oil and gas giant Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi has argued.
"To prevent a widening gap [between Africa and Europe], we must tackle the question of Africa's development today," Descalzi recently said in an Italian press interview.
The migrant crisis, with its tragic and dramatic consequences, is linked to a lack of development, Descalzi stated.
"In 20 or 30 years , the situation will be even more unmanageable, Africa's population will hit two billion," said Descalzi.
"Yet it is there that energy resources are lacking and that there are tremendous problems which need fixing."
Stabilising the African continent is an essential objective that can be achieved by bringing "employment and development", Descalzi argued.
"If we want security, we must first of all work on the development of those populations," Descalzi said.
His comments came as the European Union executive this week unveiled proposals offering eight billion euros over five years aimed at giving Africans more incentive to stay at home. Much of the aid will come from EU states, but some will be from private donors, under the proposals.
Eni is the biggest foreign company operating in Africa in terms of its investments and the extent of its activities.
