Niger: Reforms and social values at the heart of the transformation of local government
The Conference of Territorial Administration Executives continued on Wednesday, September 10, under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Minister of Interior, Public Security, and Territorial Administration, Major General Mohamed Toumba. Several members of the government presented their mission letters assigned by the President of the Republic, highlighting key projects for the country’s development.
Opening the series of communications, the Minister of Refoundation, Culture, and Promotion of Social Values, Ali Ben Salah Hamouda, stressed the need to restore integrity and improve the efficiency of the State. The fight against corruption, restoration of authority, modernization of public services, and decentralization are among the priorities. Promoting social values such as cohesion, solidarity, citizenship, integrity, and patriotism should also strengthen national unity.
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Colonel Mahaman Elhadji Ousmane, then detailed the 2024–2027 Major Irrigation Program (PGI), which aims to strengthen food sovereignty. The plan includes the development of nearly 39,700 hectares of irrigated land to produce more than 700,000 tons of rice, along with maize, wheat, alfalfa, and forage. Its total cost is estimated at 751.89 billion CFA francs. The PGI is built on four pillars: land development, land use, processing and marketing, as well as coordination and management.
For her part, the Minister of Population, Social Action, and National Solidarity, Professor Sidikou Ramatou Djermakoye Seyni, presented the main priorities of her department: controlling demographic growth, promoting responsible parenting, empowering women, and protecting children. She also recalled the implementation of the National Gender Policy 2025 and the Humanitarian and Disaster Management Policy 2020–2035, which focuses on community resilience.
The Minister of National Education outlined the progress made in the sector while noting the ongoing challenges. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Abdoulaye Seydou, emphasized youth entrepreneurship. Programs such as PROMEL, IDEE, PATEJ, and the agripreneurship promotion initiative (2026–2030) are underway, with plans to establish a dedicated agency and an SME charter.
Finally, the President of the National Committee of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) presented the steps toward operationalizing the Confederation between Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, stressing the importance of building a strong alliance in a changing geopolitical context.
