A general view of a vendor selling grain at the Dar-es-salam market in Niamey. — AFP
AT a Niamey market, mother of five Rakia Abdou haggles hard for a sack of rice, a staple out of reach for many in Niger due to record inflation.
“The prices of local food are falling but those for imported products are still high,” she said at the Wadata market, lightly coated in dust carried by the wind of west Africa’s Harmattan dry season.
It is almost a year since the lifting of heavy sanctions on Niger imposed by a regional West African bloc to protest against the overthrow of civilian president Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.
But constantly changing prices mean that many of Niger’s 26 million inhabitants face the grim daily choice of having to adapt or even go without.
Four days after military officers seized power, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) slapped tough economic and financial measures on landlocked Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries.
Economist Abdallah Souleymane said the sanctions “completely disrupted the supply chains” and resulted in “difficulties with imports”.
There were “repercussions on the cost of many products, particularly food”, he added in an interview on national television.
A street vendor standing at his stall at a cart at the Dar-es-salam market in Niamey. — AFP
Inflation in Niger peaked at a record high of 15.5% in June last year before falling towards the end of the year, data from the National Statistics Institute showed.
For 2025 to 2026, it is expected to remain high at 5.4%, according to World Bank projections.
Trade unions say the main factor driving costs higher is the closure of the border with Benin, which has the closest port through which 80% of Niger’s freight transited.
Niger, which is battling religious extremist violence, refuses to open its border with Benin, accusing it of harbouring rebel training camps – an accusation Porto Novo denies.
Niamey has found a workaround via the port of Lome in Togo.
But this forces thousands of trucks to make a long detour and cross eastern Burkina Faso, running through a region that is also plagued by deadly rebel attacks.
The new routes entail higher costs that are passed on to customers in the prices of essential necessities.
“It takes two to three months to get to Niamey. We have a lot of costs and there is the risk of attacks despite the military escorts,” said Ghanaian driver Idrissou Issoufou.
He is a regular among the truck convoys and describes the journey as nothing short of an “ordeal”.
Another possibility for bringing in goods is by river.
A vendor holding a bottle of cooking oil at the Dar-es-salam market.—AFP
While the land border with Benin is officially closed, some merchandise still crosses the Niger River separating the two countries – although it is not an ideal solution.
“From Benin, we bring products into Niger on the river, but it costs us a lot of money,” Salamatou Gna, a Beninese trader in Niamey, grumbled.
Previously, “with 10,000 CFA francs (RM67) you could fill up your shopping basket. Today with the same amount, the basket is half empty,” Hadjia Hadjara said at another market.
“It’s no longer a question of preparing two large meals a day,” she said.
Mahaman Nouri, of the Association of Consumers’ Rights, said many Nigeriens have been forced to change how they live.
“To adapt, Nigeriens have completely changed their eating habits and are consuming (more) traditional dishes,” he added.
“I know many people who didn’t used to eat cornmeal but they have adapted. We need to return to local products,” he said.
To help ease the burden, Niger’s military-led government introduced measures including an unprecedented 50% cut in the cost of medical consultations and medical care for everyone.
Petrol, diesel and cement prices were also slashed as were customs duties.
Authorities organised the free distribution of food to the most vulnerable and special cut-price sales of grains.
In addition, the military rulers – who say restoring Niger’s national sovereignty is a priority – have banned the export of cereals, notably to neighbour Nigeria, to prevent shortages.
“Niger’s economy has shown resilience due in part to proactive measures taken by the authorities,” Han Fraeters, the World Bank’s country manager for Niger, said.
The measures have enabled public sector salaries to continue to be paid, he added. Despite the difficult climate, the World Bank, which has resumed aid to Niger, forecasts that gross domestic product will expand by 6.5% on average in 2025 to 2026, largely due to agriculture and oil exports.
But, if inflation remains stubbornly high, nearly half of the population could be forced into extreme poverty by next year, the global lender warned. — AFP
