From 5 January 2024, Niger will operate, produce and distribute its own drinking water through Nigérienne des Eaux. The Nigerien government’s decision, which reflects its desire for greater autonomy in drinking water management, reflects its intention not to renew the leasing contract with Société d’Exploitation des Eaux du Niger (SEEN). The subsidiary of French environmental giant Veolia, which has managed this sector in the West African country for more than 22 years.
National Water Company (SNE), the forerunner of SEEN, was created in 2001 from the break-up of Nigérienne de l’Electricité (NIGELEC). SNE was sold to shareholders including Veolia, which became the majority shareholder with 51% of the shares. The remaining 49% is held by private Nigerien companies (39%), SEEN staff (10%) and the State of Niger (5%).
In practical terms, the new Nigérienne des Eaux, whose draft decree was adopted on 12 January 2023, will ensure the continuity of the public water service in Niger’s urban areas. “In order to define the terms and conditions and facilitate the transfer of operations to the new operator, a protocol was signed between the State of Niger and SEEN in March 2023. This protocol provides, among other things, for the staff of the outgoing operator to be taken over by Nigérienne des Eaux, given that most of the staff are Nigeriens with all the required skills”, explained the Niger Minister for Water and the Environment, Maïzama Abdoulaye. He also said that the nationalisation of drinking water management marks the start of a new era in Niger, with the government playing a more direct role in the management of this essential resource.
Working towards achieving MDG6 by 2030
Nigérienne des Eaux is taking over the reins of the water sector at a time when the country is in the midst of a political crisis that led on 26 July 2023 to the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum by putschists led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani. Tchiani was proclaimed Head of State on 28 July of the same year, having managed to rally the rest of the Nigerien army to his cause. And less than three months later (on 10 October 2023), around 1,400 French soldiers left Ouallam, a town in western Niger, under Nigerien escort, bound for N’Djamena in Chad.
So the question is whether the departure of Frenchman Veolia is part of the ongoing departure of French troops from Niger. Nothing is less certain. What is certain and concrete, however, is the mission of Nigérienne des Eaux, which is to improve access to drinking water for the people of Niger, currently estimated at less than 50%. The Nigerien government’s ambition is universal coverage by 2030.
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To support this ambition, the country in the heart of the Sahel is implementing a number of projects, including the 45 drinking water supply schemes underway in the regions of Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua and Tillabéri since December 2022. Or the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Sector Programme (Proseha), which is due to be completed in 2024. Proseha comprises five sub-programmes dedicated to drinking water supply, hygiene and sanitation, monitoring and protection of water resources, governance and pastoral hydraulics. These sub-programmes will be implemented in three successive phases.
Inès Magoum