In the village of N’Dounga Tarey, located about fifteen kilometers from Niamey, the devastation from last week’s heavy rains remains starkly visible. Collapsed houses and ruined buildings dominate the landscape as residents grapple with the aftermath. Idrissa Issoufou Souley, a local resident, surveys the damage, noting that over a dozen houses have been destroyed. While no lives were lost, the material damage is significant, with homes, millet fields, and rice fields all affected.
The torrential rains have not only devastated N’Dounga Tarey but also severely impacted Niamey’s connectivity. The main road to the capital has been split in two, and two other roads are submerged, effectively cutting Niamey off from the rest of the country and essential supplies like fuel. Maazou Aboubacar Oumani, the Commercial Director of SONIDEP, explained that all supply routes, including those to the Niamey fuel depot on the Sorey plateau, have been cut off. The submerged bridge at Sorey Ganda has made passage impossible, leading to a critical fuel shortage in the capital.
As a result, gas stations with remaining fuel have seen desperate crowds, with people struggling to secure what little is left. Taxi drivers like Chamsou Moussa Oumarou have been forced to park their vehicles due to the lack of fuel, pleading with the government to find a solution to the crisis.
In response to the dire situation, authorities have worked to restore the damaged route to resupply Niamey, providing much-needed relief to the population. Aissatou Harouna Faran Maiga, the mayor of Kollo town, expressed the collective relief of residents as traffic between Niamey and Kollo was restored after more than a week of disruption.
The floods, which have ravaged Niger since June, have claimed nearly 200 lives and caused extensive material damage. The heavy rains have also led to shortages of essential goods, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the country’s population as infrastructure continues to deteriorate under the relentless downpours.