For nearly a week, Niger has been grappling with an unprecedented fuel shortage that has left service stations unable to meet local demand, causing long queues of cars and motorbikes. The fuel crisis has disrupted daily activities across the capital, Niamey, and other regions, as citizens are forced to spend hours searching for stations with any supply of premium fuel.
The situation has grown increasingly frustrating for residents. Niger’s state-owned petroleum company, SONIDEP, has been rationing fuel, but many feel this system is inadequate. Moussa Kassou, a frustrated driver, shared his experience after making a long trip to the Boukoki district of Niamey only to be told that there was no petrol. He later received a tip to try another station in Wadata, but he expressed his displeasure with the scarcity: “For two or three litres, you have to waste a litre and a half, it’s a nightmare,” he said.
Niger, despite being an oil-rich country with its first refinery built in 2011, is struggling to meet its national fuel demands. The country’s daily consumption is estimated to be over two million litres, but a combination of issues has led to severe shortfalls. As of now, the country’s refinery, alongside other supply challenges, cannot produce enough fuel to satisfy demand, creating widespread frustration and uncertainty among the public.
Adding to the confusion, there has been a lack of transparency surrounding the fuel shortages. Niamey resident Assoumane Hamadou Souley expressed frustration with the authorities, saying, “We don’t have much information on this because the authorities, who are obliged to give us full explanations, are not doing so. We’re at a loss. We don’t have any real information.”
While SONIDEP attributes the crisis to a shortage in fuel stocks, transport operators, particularly those from the Taxi and Urban Transport Drivers’ Union (SYNCTAXITU), have dismissed this explanation, arguing that more action should be taken to boost production and meet demand. According to Agali Ibrahim, General Secretary of SYNCTAXITU, “We think that the state must take a step forward in terms of production because if we are told that there are 25 trucks for the city of Niamey, I don’t think that’s enough.”
The union is calling for an increase in the daily number of tanker trucks transporting fuel, suggesting that the number should rise from 24 to 100 trucks a day in the capital alone to alleviate the shortage. This proposal comes amid concerns that fuel smuggling and hoarding are exacerbating the crisis, as people rush to fill their tanks.
Additionally, some organizations and citizens have called on the government to consider temporarily opening borders with neighboring Benin and Nigeria to access fuel supplies. Niger shares borders with both countries, which could serve as a short-term solution to the growing crisis.
As the fuel shortage continues, the people of Niger are left grappling with the daily challenges of navigating transportation disruptions, economic strain, and a lack of clear communication from authorities. The country’s leadership faces mounting pressure to address the crisis quickly and ensure that fuel production and supply systems are enhanced to meet the growing needs of the population.
