CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Kenneth Dareng, Nigeria, March 1999
THEME = ECONOMY
The author lives in neighbouring Nigeria so is well-placed
to comment on Niger's well-nigh impossible situation.
But he suggests that Niger, although living in the shadow
of its gigantic neighbour, Nigeria, could do a great deal more
to help itself than it is doing
The Republic of Niger, a country with a population of 9.5 million, is classified among the world's poorest nations. For many years, Niger has been faced with drought and famine coupled with lack of sufficient rainfall. The high rate of unemployment, near absence of basic amenities such as clean drinking water, food, shelter and housing, plus the on-going political instability, has forced many of its citizens into voluntary exile in Nigeria, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Benin and other countries.
Niger's per capita income averages about $30 per annum. 70% of the food consumed in the country is imported from Nigeria, Algeria and Libya. There seems to be very little political will on the part of the government to diversify the economy. Indeed, Niger's economy depends solely on livestock and especially uranium whose international market value has dropped drastically in recent years. Niger has thus become a nation completely dependent on international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and other donor agencies in order to cater for the needs of its citizens and to service its battered economy which is already on its knees. Niger also depends on Nigeria for electricity, food supply and petroleum products, and on France and Libya for its military hardware.
(The late) President Baré Mainassara had a multitude of problems to contend with: Opposition from the political parties, armed rebel groups, persistent workers' strife because they didn't receive their wages, large scale corruption and dwindling resources. The citizens, particularly the educated ones, scrambled for available jobs. Even today, there's not much in the way of industry so jobs in the civil service are greatly sought after. A few people engage in small-scale farming or the buying and selling of essential commodities. These problems have not gone away with the change-over in government.
Niger has, over the years, suffered severe rainfall shortages, but interestingly, it has abundant underground water which could be used for large-scale irrigation farming. If only Niger could utilize the abundance of water beneath its ground surface, it could be self-reliant in food production. The water supply in and around urban centres such as Agadez, Tahoa, Zinder, Maradi Birnin Kwonni and Niamey could go a long way towards satisfying the needs of the entire nation, with smaller settlements situated in the Sahara Desert such as Dirkou, Dawoh and Madama areas, all with underground reservoirs of water, making a valuable contribution. In Dirkou, for example, water is found just over two metres below the surface. With a well-irrigated soil, Niger has the potential for growing such basic food crops as maize, sorghum, wheat, tomatoes, pepper, onions, millet.
Truth to say, the government could do much more by way of pipeline and canal irrigation projects to divert water to those areas in need. Billions of cubic metres of underground water are laying waste and un-utilized. The example of what has already been achieved by way of irrigation projects in countries such as Libya, Egypt and Israel, is there for all to see.
Niger's neighbours are all involved in either mechanized or irrigated farming. But Niger's government has done little to exploit the waters of the River Niger which extend to Niamey.
Because of the government's lukewarm attitude, farmers are losing out on enormous possibilities for improving their crop production.
A few years ago, reports began to circulate that oil had been discovered in reasonable commercial quantities in Niger's section of the Sahara Desert. Yet there seems to have been no concrete plans made to harness the "black gold". Many of Niger's citizens who thought work would commence immediately on the oil exploration project, soon had their dreams dashed, as only a small amount of drilling equipment was brought to the site. Since then, there's been no word of any progress and the equipment has started rusting, after lying dormant for nearly five years.
When many of Niger's citizens who were engaged in menial jobs in other countries heard that oil had been found at home, they started returning, dreaming that their country would be transformed into the "Kuwait" of Africa. Some business people even started buying plots of land at Madama, Dirkou and Agadez for the construction of hotels and other business ventures. But the dream has remained but a dream!
In sharp contrast to Niger's neighbour, Chad, where oil was also discovered in commercial quantities, has swung into action by laying pipes from the exploration site to Cameroon's port of Yaounde. A similar arrangement could be made between Niger and Nigeria with a pipeline being laid from Niger to Lagos.
It's clear a great deal has still to be done so that Niger shifts from complete dependence on imported goods and services to a state of self-reliance and political stability.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement